Cocoa And Chocolate
The Tree, The Bean The Beverage

i ’fr HWOWXiöiMVinonnnnnnnfrwvwmnnan t nnn nn rifin r '■ ■ \:: .-:: *-•-I | i-. £: s S COST OF CACAO PRODUCTION 97 It is interesting to compare this with the figures given by Hart in pre-war days. He writes : “ It is calculated that an estate can be established by the contract system at a cost of about £12 to £15 per acre, exclusive of buildings.” On the Gold Coast, the Omanhene of Akwapim estimated (1919) that the cost of bringing an acre into bearing is (6 for the first year, and (2 5s. a year for four more years, making a total of (15 an acre. While the above figures enable one to get an accurate outline of the costs, Mr. Keith’s figures for Ceylon, in 1922, fill in the details. The costs were given in rupees, but that they may be more generally understood they have been converted into English money (100 rupees being equivalent to £6 13s. 4d.). See page 98. The list of expenses does not allow for any buildings, the cost of which would depend on their size and the acreage planted, or for the manager s salary. The Capital cost, including salary and buildings, of an estate of 300 acres, would be about (26 13s. 4d. an acre. These figures speak for themselves and give one a good idea of the relative importance of the different operations during the first five years on the plantation. When the ground is cleared the weeds spring up with lightning-like rapidity, and to check this, as thoroughly as is usual in Ceylon, requires much labour, especially in the first few years. Both Mr. Lovell’s and Mr. Keith s figures show a high initial outlay on roads and drains, an outlay which cannot safely be scamped, for the former greatly facilitates the work on the plantation and the latter are essential to its health. It will be noted that manuring is an expensive item, especially in the third and fifth years. Every year a little has to be spent on “ supplying ” new cacao and shade trees to take the place of those which die or prove unsatisfactory from other causes.