Cocoa prices for farmers in Cameroon, Africa's fourth-largest cocoa grower, rose slightly through mid-January, although disparities among the regions
remained.

Buyers paid between 1,500 and 1,600 CFA francs ($2.48-2.64) per kg in the Centre region, while prices ranged from 1,200 to 1,450 CFA francs per kg in the South and South-West regions.

Andre Belebenie, the new president of the national cocoa and coffee producers' association, said the price difference among regions stemmed from the fact that some were closer than others to the port in Douala.

Farmer Benoit Eyebe, however, said the disparity was due to differences in agricultural techniques, saying: "The farmers in the Centre region produce the beans of the best quality because they apply good agricultural practices,
better than others."

Cameroon's Centre and South-West regions account for 40 percent each of its cocoa output, the South 15 percent and the East 5 percent.

The cocoa season stretches from Aug. 1 to July 31. The main harvest period lasts from October to January/February and the light crop harvest cycle from April/May to June/July.

Below are the average farmgate prices in CFA francs per kg
recorded across the growing regions:


Region: South-West

District:

Mamfe- Price per kg in Dec. (1300) Price per kg in Jan. (1200)

Konye- Price per kg in Dec. (1250) Price per kg in Jan. (1200)

Muyuka- Price per kg in Dec. (1300) Price per kg in Jan. (1300)

Koumba- (1320) Price per kg in Jan. (1200)

Region: Centre

District:

Mbalmayo- Price per kg in Dec. (1400) Price per kg in Jan. (1500)

Emana- Price per kg in Dec. (1550) Price per kg in Jan. (1600)

Bafia- Price per kg in Dec. (1500) Price per kg in Jan. (1600)

Region: South

District:

Ebolowa- Price per kg in Dec. (1400) Price per kg in Jan. (1450)

Sangmelima- Price per kg in Dec. (1325) Price per kg in Jan. (1400)

Region: East

District:

Bertoua- Price per kg in Dec. (1200) Price per kg in Jan. (1300)

Yokadouma- Price per kg in Dec. (1200) Price per kg in Jan. (1300)

($1 = 605.7400 CFA francs)