"The cocoa bean is very susceptible to change in weather," Baker said.

"The cocoa bean is very susceptible to change in weather," Baker said.

Cocoa operators have urged the Federal Government to boost the sector by mandating local consumption, including chocolate, in the country. These operators ...

In Ecuador, farmers who bet on cocoa beans rather than bananas, the country's top agricultural export, are cashing in as a global shortage of the main ingredient in chocolate feeds a price bonanza.

Cocoa prices on Monday recovered from early losses and settled sharply higher as signs of a slowing pace of Ivory Coast cocoa exports sparked short covering in cocoa futures.