About Cocoa
:: About THE
CROP - COCOA ::
Crop History
Cocoa (Theobroma cacao
L.) a native of Amazon base of South America got
its entry into India in the early half of the 20th century. Administratively it is
conferred plantation status like coffee, tea and rubber but is seldom recognized as a
plantation crop under the Indian Agrarian Administrative Sector. It is also one of the
supporter of Agro-based industry in India. Cocoa beans is the primary raw material for
confectioneries, beverages, chocolates and other edible products. The commercial sector of
cocoa in India hardly takes place in a major way in the international export trade.
Majority of the processed cocoa products are consumed within India. The tropical
diversified congenial climate available in India provides immense scope for its
cultivation.
Cocoa is hardly grown as a mono crop. Its imminent capacity to share
the alley spaces of tall growing Coconut and Arecanut palms and its combining ability with
the microclimatic conditions available in such perennial gardens helps its cultivation in
utilizing such areas without exacting for an independent growing climate of its own. In
any groves of tall growing palms where 40-50% sunlight penetration is possible, cocoa
stands first to absorb such solar energy, remaining symbiotic to the main crop and
generating additional income as well, besides helping the amelioration of the soil
conditions making beneficial not only for its own growth but also for the benefit of the
main crop under which it takes its shelter.
Kerala was the leading State in promoting cocoa cultivation. Massive
area coverage was possible through distribution of cocoa seedlings. Perhaps Cadbury India
Ltd., was the only industrial unit during the period of massive expansion of area under
cocoa. There was an attractive price for cocoa pods and beans prevalent till 1980's. This
favourable situation, coupled with large scale distribution of planting materials could
bring about an enviable area coverage recording 29,000 ha under cocoa by 1980-81. Being a
crop subjected to the monopolistic exploitation of the available industrial unit, however
paved ways for fall in price in 1981-82 and 1982-83. Inadequate marketing network and the
fall in price developed a sense of insecurity among the planting communities, which
detrimentally affected its expansion besides attributing to a neglectful approach by the
plantation community. The entry of CAMPCO towards the marketing scenario from 1990's,
though created a favourable atmosphere, the services rendered towards procurement of cocoa
was far below the requirement. As a result, expansion of cocoa came to a standstill in
spite of favouring the growers with a better price.
From 1997-98 onwards the non-traditional tracts of Karnataka and other
States like Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu started developing cocoa. As on day, with the
implementation of 8th Five Year Plan programmes through distribution of high yielding
varieties in the form of clones and hybrid seedlings, the area under cocoa is 17,800 Ha.
With a meager production of 10,200 MT compared to total world production of 27 lakh
MT.
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