Essay Example: The Cocoa Industrys Effects on Ivory Coasts Economy

The history of chocolate in the Ivory Coast is not pretty. Originally, the Ivory Coast was made to be a colony that fulfills European chocolate demand. However, it quickly became one of the world's largest chocolate suppliers. But recently an important question has been up for discussion. Is chocolate good for the Ivory Coast? Although there are valid criticisms of cocoa production, chocolate is good for the Ivory Coast because it is heavily consumed, drives their economy, and has the potential to make them a rich nation. 

Since colonial times, chocolate has been in high demand and shows no signs of going down. In Switzerland, the annual per capita rate of chocolate consumption is 19.8 lbs (Document A). Considering that Switzerland has a population of 8.637 million, this means that in Switzerland alone, 171,012,600 lbs of chocolate are consumed yearly. These numbers show how big and profitable the chocolate business can be. Now, while other countries tend not to consume as much chocolate as Europeans, the numbers from the other hundreds of countries that do consume chocolate are already high enough to sustain a prosperous industry. 

Not only is chocolate in high demand, but it also drives the Ivory Coast's economy. Cocoa beans and related products are the Ivory Coast's largest sector of exports. Cocoa beans make up 31% of all the Ivory Coast´s exports, and the second-largest export is mineral products at 20% (Document B). All other sectors take up a much smaller proportion of their exports, at 15% or less (Document B). Denying that chocolate is their biggest beneficiary would be dishonest. If the Ivory Coast were to discontinue cocoa farming, a lot of Ivorians would not be left with many other suitable options to make a living. 

Lastly, chocolate production has the potential to make them a rich nation. As of now, they are not reaping the full benefits of their chocolate. However, there are viable solutions to fix that. Only about 10% of the total proceeds from the sale of chocolate go back to the Ivory Coast (Document C). Meanwhile, the other 90% go to the processors, manufacturers, and retailers in Europe, Asia, and the Americas (Document C). Simply adding chocolate manufacturing plants would give them another 40% of the share of proceeds in the sale of chocolate. Doing so would significantly raise their GDP and create lots of jobs. 

Even though cocoa farming has not always been in the best interest of Ivorians, it can now help them get out of poverty. Chocolate’s high demand, influence over their economy, and economic potential stand to be beneficial to the Ivory Coast. The fate of thousands of lives in the Ivory Coast depends on chocolate. So creating solutions to the chocolate industry is a crucial and time-sensitive matter.