It is the result of tradition, poverty, a lack of alternatives for generating income, a lack of opportunities for young people outside of school, rigid community structures and prevailing attitudes, inadequate legal protection of children's rights and a failure to put in place mandatory public education for all children.
Vairāk nekā 90 % pasaules kakao izaudzē 5,5 miljoni zemnieku sīksaimniecībās, un vēl 14 miljoni laukstrādnieku ir tieši atkarīgi no tā ražošanas.