Cocoa prices in Cameroon remained largely steady in April, ranging from 1300 CFA francs ($2.23) in the South-West region to 1600 CFA francs in the
Centre.

Joachim Landry Nanga Mevoa, the general director of the Cameroon agro-business cooperative (Camagrob), said the crop has not been good so far, partly because farmers have used non-approved pesticides.

But Laurent Atangana, a cocoa producer, blamed buyers who purchase beans illegally before the crop has been dried or harvested, depressing the price for producers.

Not all regions have been affected by stagnant prices and buyers have regularly purchased beans in the Centre area for prices higher than in other zones.