Vijayawada: Cocoa farming is getting a boost from the Andhra Pradesh government. Therefore, Dr. YSR Horticulture University has decided to establish cocoa clonal orchards in Vijayrai near Eluru to improve the quality of cocoa saplings, aiming to get high yields, as per Dr. K Srinivasulu, Director of the Andhra Pradesh Horticulture Department. This announcement came during a stakeholders’ meeting on cocoa cultivation, jointly organized by the Directorate of Cashew Nut and Cocoa Development (DCCD) and the Andhra Pradesh Horticulture Department.
Dr. Srinivasulu explained that the department is in constant touch with Dr. YSR Horticulture University for creating quality plans so that cocoa farming can be developed in the state. He went on to say that loan facilities are available for the farmers. Several plans are in the pipeline, such as bean drying, fermentation, and chocolate and cocoa powder industries, which will also be set up.
Andhra Pradesh is the leading producer of cocoa in the country; its farming is being done on more than 30,000 hectares, and the annual production of dried beans is about 12,135 metric tonnes. Maximum cocoa farming takes place in Eluru district, but its cultivation has been taking place in several districts of the state, such as East and West Godavari, Srikakulam, and Krishna.
A decision had been taken in the meeting to expand cocoa cultivation by 5,000 hectares every year. The focus will be on hybrid and clone varieties of saplings for improving the quality of cocoa beans and making the supply issue easy. In the discussion, experts from the cocoa industry and others were present.
