Cocoa and coffee buying in Cameroon : the role of the marketing board in the south west and north west provinces, 1978-1987

This report examines the trade in cocoa and coffee in North West and South West Province in Cameroon. It concentrates on the early stages of trade, from the moment of sale by the farmers till the time the produce is ready for shipment. The period reviewed goes back to 1978, the year in which the National Produce Marketing Board (NPMB), which controls the marketing of the crops, started its operations. The fieldwork for this study was done in September and October 1987. The report is organized as follows: Chapters 2-5 give background information of a geographical, botanical, and legal nature. Chapters 6-8 discuss the three parties that participate in the marketing process: the cooperatives, some licensed private traders, and the NPMB. Their collaboration and interaction is described in chapters 9 and 10, and the main events and controversies are analysed. Chapters 11-14 comment on a number of policie