19 y su repercusión en la cadena de valor

Emma Yolanda Mendoza Vargas

year 2020. Although Ecuador has been considered

one of the main producers and exporters of cocoa in

the world, with vast recognition and prestige, it has

been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, which has

impacted all economic activities at the international

level.

Keywords: Cocoa, value chain, productivity,

marketing, pandemic.

ha sido considerado uno de los productores y

0002-0220-4328

hescobar@uteq.edu.ec, Quevedo-Ecuador, https://orcid.org/0000-

0001-9165-6627

a nivel internacional.

Palabras clave: Cacao, cadena de valor,

itself and society. The exact impact of the pandemic on economies on an international

scale will not be known as long as this situation persists, but only after Covid-19, since,

according to assessments by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF),

the consequence of this pandemic in terms of the economy has been, above all, the

worsening of already existing fiscal deficits.... (García, Pico, & Jaimez, 2021).

Related to this, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean

(ECLAC) has revealed that the consequences of the pandemic on international trade

have shown a decrease of more than 17% to date, in the same way that export and trade

operations have also reflected a considerable decrease of more than 23%, with Latin

America being the most affected region after the pandemic. In the case of Ecuador,

to insert the country in the international context. For this reason, this article is oriented

to offer an overview of the incidence of the pandemic on the level of exports of the

cocoa sector in this country compared to previous periods. The COVID-19 pandemic

has affected every segment of the population, but has been especially harmful to the

most vulnerable groups, especially the poor, the elderly, the disabled, youth and

indigenous populations. In addition, this crisis in the social aspect as a consequence of

the pandemic has increased the inequalities that already existed, as well as

unemployment and exclusion. (Vargas, Vite, & Quezada, 2021)..

Although the level of non-immediate impact caused by the pandemic is not fully known,

a large number of cocoa producers are now in a "critical situation" of food security and

the pandemic, demand changed radically. The countries with the highest demand in

Europe, for example, considerably decreased the consumption of this quarantined

product, such as Spain, Italy, Great Britain and France, among others, thus impacting the

demand for cocoa and chocolate from processing plants.

Thus, the pandemic has caused various difficulties in production and supply chains, as

well as job losses, and has dealt a severe blow to food price dynamics, particularly in the

most food insecure regions, where the consequences have been significant.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This article has a qualitative and descriptive approach based on the search for and

of the research process; abstraction-concretion, used to synthesize concepts and

theoretical aspects; and documentary analysis, through which the bibliographic

exploration of quality contents was carried out.

In Ecuador there is currently a marked interest in the production and marketing of

cocoa, its consumption at the international level is relevant, not only as chocolate, but

also as a basic ingredient for food, given the revaluation of the delicacy of its beans

(Mendoza, Boza & Gonzalez, 2020). In terms of the market, this crop originated with

colonization; currently its consumption at the international level is considered relevant,

not only as chocolate, but also as a basic ingredient for a healthy diet, given the

revaluation of the exquisiteness of its grains, according to what they say (Mendoza,

and biodiversity conservation (Mendoza, Boza & Manjarrez, 2022).

more than one hundred thousand families, which represent about 5% of the

economically active population, for which they have occupied more than six hundred

thousand hectares of land for this crop, an activity that is also developed in all provinces,

generating jobs and added value to the product, as it has a high quality, making

(Abad, Acuña, & Naranjo, El cacao en la Costa ecuatoriana: estudio de su dimensión

cultural y económica, 2019)..

Several crops are grown in Ecuador, favored by the country's climate and soils. The two

varieties of cocoa commonly grown are the national cocoa (the most highly valued) and

CCN-51 cocoa. The production chain of this crop is based on the grouping of producers

that form three groups: the group that includes small farms and households, representing

37%, which do not have irrigation systems and market cocoa to associations and

retailers; another group representing 54%, which have irrigation systems and market the

product to retailers, and a third group that sells this product to wholesale warehouses,

representing about 8.3%, some of which have irrigation systems. The country's cocoa

provides a high boost to the country's economy (Abad, Acuña, & Naranjo, 2020).

companies. In the world market, cocoa beans are divided into two main divisions:

"common or ordinary" cocoa and "fine or aroma" cocoa (Mendoza, Boza & Manjarrez,

2021). External marketing is based on the sale of domestic cocoa beans and the CCN51

clone. (León, Calderón, & Mayorga, 2016)..

competition, giving it international prestige. (Moreno, Vite, & Carvajal, 2022)..

countries decreased somewhat, the export rate of Ecuadorian cocoa was quite

acceptable in 2020, compared to what other regions went through. Some countries

completely paralyzed their production in processing plants, which is why purchases and

imports were reduced. (Moreno, Vite, & Carvajal, 2022)..

However, Ecuador already presented financial difficulties before the beginning of the

pandemic in 2020, since several events were marking for years the economy, such as the

fall of cocoa prices in 2017; the absence of regulations and a more efficient management

carried out by the State regarding this sector; likewise, on several occasions there was

political, social and economic instability that evidently affected the welfare of citizens.

For these reasons, when COVID-19 arrived, the impact it generated on oil prices was

high, circumstances before which exports of products considered non-oil, including

cocoa, are usually a lifesaver. (Quintero & Diaz, 2004).

rural population, reasons why this crop acquires great importance, as well as the

undertaking of actions in order to mitigate losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the

cocoa chain. (Macías, Mero, Montalvan, & Granoble, 2020)..

Anecacao, the National Association of Cocoa Exporters, faced a great challenge when

the pandemic occurred at the beginning of 2020, since it had to promote the massive

acceptance of biosafety protocols, and this change was experienced throughout the

international markets. The MOCCA program made a considerable contribution by

promoting the continuity of training for producers, who were given access to the Mobile

Due to the support provided by the MOCCA program, 69 workshops on cultivation

techniques were held in times of pandemic, reaching a total of 644 producers, with which

specialists from countries such as Peru, Nicaragua, Colombia and Honduras, among

others, exchanged knowledge with the producers of the chain. (ANECACAO, 2020).

contagions in these areas due to COVID-19 or other diseases. Likewise, this vulnerability

is increased by the scarcity or distance of health centers.

there should be a plan that prioritizes the improvement of basic services such as

electricity, water and communications, which would favorably modify the living

conditions of these types of workers in the countryside. (Albán, 2021).

It is also necessary to be aware of the limitations of farmers, such as problems with

by the pandemic, although internally Ecuador suffered major changes that it had to face

and that harmed agricultural activities and small producers, but despite this, the cocoa

sector and its exports have continued to strengthen and obtain economic benefits from