Why cocaine farmers are growing chocolate now

Why cocaine farmers are growing chocolate now
Published 11:26 November 13, 2015
Updated 11:26 November 13, 2015
By NEOnline | TB

Cocaine or chocolate? Farmers in South America are opting to grow cocoa instead of coca, the source of cocaine because cocoa is more profitable and a lot less dangerous.

For instance, the shift has increased Colombia’s cocoa production 11% to 54,120 tonnes in the 12 months ended September 30 compared with the previous season, according to data compiled by the Bogota-based National Federation of Cocoa Growers.

As reported by Bloomberg, prices for cocoa, the raw material used to produce chocolate, are climbing in international markets, lining the pockets of Andean farmers.

Cocoa futures have surged 39% in the three years through November 10, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The Bloomberg Commodity Index, which doesn’t include cocoa, tumbled 40% in the same period. Cocoa for March delivery rose 0.5% to $3,329 a tonne by 11:49am on ICE Futures US in NY.

More:
http://neurope.eu/article/why-cocaine-farmers-are-growing-chocolate-now/