Comparative Epidemiology Study: Ecuador

Abstract

The area of cocoa presently cultivated in Ecuador is estimated at approximately 250,000 ha. There are about 55,000 families involved in its cultivation, which is usually in the range of 60,000–90,000 t per year. Cocoa is the fourth most important export from Ecuador, following oil, shrimps, and bananas. In the principal producing areas to the west of the Andes cocoa, like coffee, is grown typically as part of a extensive, but irregular agroforestry system in an area which has a high population growth and is susceptible to urban migration.