THE GOLD COAST COCOA INDUSTRY. 



By W. S. D. TUDHOPE. 

 Director of Agriculture, Gold Coast. 



THE Gold Coast commenced to export cocoa in 1891. 

 The official figures for that year gave the quantity 

 exported as 80 Ib. in weight, valued at 4. 



The export of the past year was 113,239,980 Ib., valued 

 at 2,489,218. 



The growth of the industry can best be ascertained by 

 a glance at the following table. The figures in every 

 case are obtained from official sources : 



Value of increase 

 Year Quantity Value in five years 



* Increase in two years. 



The Gold Coast is now the largest cocoa-producing 

 country in the world, and the industry is exclusively a 

 native one. 



It was in 1911 that the Gold Coast first attained the 

 distinction of being the largest cocoa-producing country, 

 and it is evident from subsequent returns that she has 

 not yet reached her maximum production, as the exports 

 for the past year (1913) are almost one-third more than 

 that of any previous year. Figures available for the first 

 quarter of the current year also show an increased pro- 

 duction of over 200,000 worth on the previous year's 

 record for the same period. 



For the purpose of this paper I propose to give a few 

 facts concerning the present condition and affecting the 

 future development of the industry; and for a more 



