Ethiopia is accelerating efforts to develop its cocoa industry as part of a broader plan to diversify agricultural exports and enter the global chocolate market.

Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) Director General Nigussie Dechassa said studies show strong potential for cocoa cultivation across Ethiopia’s diverse climates.

Researchers have developed a new cocoa variety suited to local conditions, with pilot projects demonstrating high yields. Over 32,000 cocoa seedlings were distributed to farmers during the latest planting season as part of the national initiative.

The EIAR noted that the program supports Ethiopia’s strategy to boost high-value crop production for export and industrial use. Cocoa, a key ingredient in chocolate, thrives in equatorial regions, with Africa producing about 70 percent of global output, according to the UN Conference on Trade and Development.

Source: Xinhua