Growing Cocoa
The Cocoa tree is a native plant of the Amazon basin and tropical areas of Southern and Central America. Cocoa is grown in countries in a belt 15 degrees either side of the Equator. The natural habitat of the cocoa tree is in the lower storey of the evergreen rainforest.
Temperature and rainfall are the most important climatic factors contributing to their growth as the cocoa trees need even temperatures and a fairly constant rainfall of approximately
1000-2500mm per year.
Cocoa trees are able to grow well in these humid tropical climates as they have regular rain and a short dry season and cannot be grown in places with hot, dry winds and drought.
Temperature and rainfall are the most important climatic factors contributing to their growth as the cocoa trees need even temperatures and a fairly constant rainfall of approximately
1000-2500mm per year.
Cocoa trees are able to grow well in these humid tropical climates as they have regular rain and a short dry season and cannot be grown in places with hot, dry winds and drought.
The Amazon is a region spread across eight countries: Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana (an overseas territory of France). The Amazon contains 1 in 10 known species on Earth, 1.4 billion acres of dense forests, 4,100 miles of winding rivers and 2.6 million square miles in the Amazon Basin which takes up about 40% of South America.