For more than six decades, the cocoa that Richard Ambassa Mbassiga harvested from his plantation in central Cameroon faithfully paid for everything his family needed. Irregular rainfall and prolonged dry seasons have since sucked the moisture from the soil, killed cocoa trees, and cut the yield from his farm.

Ivory Coast, the world's top cocoa producer, is facing mounting demand from Western consumers for ethical chocolate -- a product that is ecologically sound and made without child labour. In a widely publicised operation named Nawa 2, police picked up dozens of children in a crackdown in Soubre, the country's cocoa-producing heartland 400 kilometres (250 miles) west of the economic capital Abidjan.

Practically everyone loves chocolate. And yet, child labor remains a problem in cocoa farming. For years, the chocolate industry has promised to end the practice, but a new study shows it has actually increased.

The inability to link Ivorian cocoa to the farmers raises questions on the sustainability of Cote d’Ivoire’s cocoa sector. That’s according to Edward George an Independent Commodities expert. George notes that at least 3 quarters of Ivorian cocoa production is not traced back to its source but adds that new technology can make it possible to digitally connect the farmer to the value chain. He joins CNBC Africa to discuss how technology is helping to improve cocoa production in Cote d’Ivoire.

The World Bank is projecting a 7 per cent economic growth for Cote d’Ivoire this year. Meanwhile, the world’s largest cocoa producer will hold its Presidential election this year. Ayalanesh Tafesse, Country Risk Analyst at RMB joins CNBC Africa for an outlook on Cote d’Ivoire’s economy.

Bad news for chocolate lovers? Cocoa in Ivory Coast threatened by deforestation

Farmers in Nigeria are hoping to take control of cocoa prices to improve their standard of living. Ghana and the Ivory Coast have already instituted price reforms.

Ivanka Trump visits Ivory Coast cocoa farm.

Cocoa farming is the first step in making the world's most popular sweet treat: chocolate. But in one top cocoa producing nation, yields have been plummeting for years. What can be done to boost production in Ghana?

Over 84,000 employees have lost their jobs in the cocoa value chain industry in Nigeria. The loss is due to the extinction of about 16 out of 20 cocoa processing companies in the country.

Nigeria's cocoa processors have reported several challenges, including high import duties in European markets and the high cost of cocoa beans.

Kristy Leissle, author of "Cocoa," discusses cocoa's rally amid concerns about tighter supply.