Colorful cocoa pods laying on the ground of Indonesia. Indonesia grew almost no cocoa before the early 1980s, when production took off like a rocket. Now it is the world’s third leading producer of cocoa beans, growing 740,500 tonnes in 2012, according to the FAO.
http://www.worldatlas.com/articles/top-10-cocoa-producing-countries.html
The distribution of annual rainfall for regions in which cocoa is grown is 1250-3000 mm per year. The rainfall must be well distributed and any dry period should be no longer than three months. Annual rainfall greater than 2500 mm may result in a higher incidence of fungal diseases.
https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/plants/fruit-and-vegetables/fruit-and-nuts/other-fruit-crops/growing-cocoa
If these are planted long enough before the cocoa trees, they give good protection. But if they are planted at the same time as the cocoa trees, they do not protect the young cocoa trees well enough and they take nourishment out of the soil. To give shade it Is better to keep a few of the forest trees.
http://www.fao.org/docrep/006/ad220e/AD220E03.htm
Irrigation is rarely used and there is limited information about growing cocoa under irrigation. In far north Queensland's growing conditions, however, irrigation is considered essential as in a typical season there are 3 to 4 months where rainfall is less than 100 mm/month.
https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/plants/fruit-and-vegetables/fruit-and-nuts/other-fruit-crops/growing-cocoa
Cocoa is usually grown under remnant forest, planted shade trees or intercropped with other commercial crops that protect the cocoa. In Malaysia and Indonesia, cocoa is also grown in full sun, although shade is used during establishment. The height of cocoa is kept to about 3-5 m to make management and harvesting easier. Average yields are low, about 1 tonne/ha or less of dry beans.
https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/plants/fruit-and-vegetables/fruit-and-nuts/other-fruit-crops/growing-cocoa
CHOOSING THE SITE. If a cocoa tree is to grow well, it needs more than anything else a soil. of good structure, permeable and deep. The cocoa tree has tap-roots. The tap-root descends straight into the soil. The branch roots go down very deep. But many small branch roots also grow near the surface. If the soil is of good structure and contains much humus, the roots penetrate well. You can improve the soil structure by spreading manure and working it into the soil. If the soil is deep, the roots can go down to a good depth.
http://www.fao.org/docrep/006/ad220e/AD220E03.htm
About the cocoa tree. Cocoa (Theobroma cacao) is a tropical tree crop originating from the Amazon basin where it grows in the shaded rainforest understorey and can reach 20 m in height. The tree produces pods that contain about 40 cocoa beans surrounded by a sweet tasting pulp.
https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/plants/fruit-and-vegetables/fruit-and-nuts/other-fruit-crops/growing-cocoa
Some cocoa farmers from Ghana have taken to smuggling their cocoa to the Ivory Coast, where cocoa is selling for almost 50 percent more. With 879,348 tonnes grown in the West African nation, that’s a lot of smuggling to be done.
http://www.worldatlas.com/articles/top-10-cocoa-producing-countries.html
In terms of total mass, West Africa produces more cocoa than any other world region. Cameroon has historically been one of the world’s largest producers of cocoa, growing 256,000 metric tons in 2012. Despite this fact, the cocoa business in Cameroon is under threat. Poor management of the cocoa crop has led to a dire situation: many of Cameroon’s cocoa trees have aged past the age of prime production.
http://www.worldatlas.com/articles/top-10-cocoa-producing-countries.html
Throw away diseased plants and plants that have a twisted tap-root. You can dip the roots of the seedlings in liquid mud, so that the cocoa plants take root again easily. When to plant cocoa trees. Plant cocoa trees at the beginning of the rainy season. Choose a day when the soil is moist and when the sky is cloudy.
http://www.fao.org/docrep/006/ad220e/AD220E03.htm
where is cocoa grown
Cocoa is grown in the West African nation.   Cocoa is grown in the West African nation.