Kerala No 2 in cocoa production; Idukki leads

Kochi: The country has seen a rise in Cocoa imports due to the increase in demand for chocolate and other chocolate products in the domestic market. 

Till February 2021-2022, Rs 2,342.18 crore of cocoa and value-added products were imported. During 2020-21, it was Rs 1,815.41 crore. 

Since all chocolate companies have increased production, there is a need for around 70,000 tonnes of cocoa per year. But the current cocoa production in India which is about 28,000 tonnes is barely enough. Several chocolate companies purchase cocoa directly from the farmers. 

Meanwhile, cocoa and value-added products worth around Rs 1,046.31 crore were exported from the country during the last financial year. The previous year, it was Rs 1,108.38 crore. 

Kerala comes second in production 

The main producers of cocoa in the country are Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Kerala comes in the second position in overall production while Andhra Pradesh leads with a production of 10,904 tonnes. 

Around 9,648 tonnes are produced in Kerala every year. 

Idukki district is the leading producer of cocoa in Kerala. Almost 40 per cent of Kerala’s cocoa production is by Idukki. Wayanad and Kannur districts also produce cocoa. 

This time cocoa price has increased. The rate of fresh cocoa is Rs 75 and dry cocoa is Rs 200 in Idukki. 

The Directorate of Cashewnut & Cocoa Development (DCCD) has decided to provide incentives for cocoa production. 

DCCD officials informed that the activities to increase the production in Kerala as per the central government’s scheme Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) are underway.