Cacao, Theobroma cacao L., is one of the most important cash
crops in numerous developing countries. World production of merchantable
cacao, estimated around 4.3 million tons (ICCO, 2011),
originates from 5 to 6 million producers and is essential to the livelihood
of 30–40 million people throughout the world (World Cacao
Foundation, 2012). Africa’s two million small-scale producers
account for 75% of world production (ICCO, 2011).