Cocoa acreage to double by 2011-12: DCCD

NEW DELHI: Aiming to increase production of cocoa by two-fold and reduce dependence on imports, the trade promotion body for the commodity is targeting to more than double the area under its coverage by 2011-12 by initiating promotional and awareness programmes on latest technologies.

The acreage stands at 30,000 hectare and the directorate is targeting 77,000 hectares by 2011-12.

"We are targeting to increase 10,000 hectare under cocoa production every year. However, this year the acreage is going to increase by 15,000 hectares," Directorate of Cashewnut and Cocoa Development Director Venkatesh N Hubballi told PTI.

DCCD is targeting the production to touch 22,000 tons in 2011-12, from the 10,175 tons during 2006-07, he pointed out.

To achieve this target, the Directorate has initiated several promotional and awareness programmes on latest technologies for the farming communities and others engaged in processing, marketing and export of the cash crop.

The current cocoa production in the country is not sufficient to meet the domestic demand. Hence, India nearly imports 6,300 tons of beans along with other cocoa products to make up for the shortfall, he added.

Value wise cocoa import for the year 2006-07 stood at Rs 135.05 crore, which is 19.66 per cent up, compared to the previous year's Rs 112.86 crore.

India's cocoa exports stood at mere Rs 40.11 crore, a 62 per cent growth from Rs 24.80 crore during 2005-06.

Cocoa is grown primarily in the four south states of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, but to increase its production, DCCD is planning to extend its cultivation to other coastal belts like Orissa, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Pondicherry, Hubballi added.