Commercialisation du cacao et mutations socio-économiques des populations dans l’arrondissement de Sangmélima (1960-2020)

Abstract

This work entitled: "Cocoa marketing and socio economic changes of populations in the district of Sangmélima (1960 2020)" aims to analyze cocoa as an income generating activity that allows the populations of the district of Sangmélima to improve their living conditions. It therefore makes it possible to present not only the evolution of cocoa production in ups and downs but also the reorganization of this sector by the public authorities. Indeed, the marketing of cocoa has led to the socio economic transformations of the populations of the Sangmélima district since Cameroon's accession to independence until 2020. With documentation consisting of books, scientific articles, abundant archival documentation and oral testimonies, this work is based on a constructivist epistemological stance and an empiro inductive approach. It is this methodological approach that led to the results of this study. It appears that through the five year plans, President Ahidjo had the courage to make cocoa a driver for development in order to guarantee the take off of the national economy. These programs offered facilities for supervising and monitoring farmers to ensure the good performance of their cocoa fields. But the economic crisis of the 1980s was a real obstacle to the results of this policy, because this period is known as a prosperous period for all populations that marked a rupture. The recovery was achieved by the government through the liberalization of the sector, which promotes the deployment of new cocoa mining activities that are ongoing to date. As a result of these new activities, the cocoa economy has risen to the midst of socio economic transformations of the populations of the Sangmélima district. These changes are perceptible through the activities that are developing within this district, in particular nurserymen, those involved in the transformation of cocoa beans into butter, cocoa breakfast powder, sweets, balms, cocoa wine.