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G.K. Nair

KOCHI, Feb. 11

KARNATAKA is to bring two lakh hectares under cocoa over a period of time as an intercrop with coconut. As part of this effort, already cocoa has been planted in 2,000 hectares of irrigated gardens in the State.

If the enthusiasm shown by the farmers and the Government was consistently sustained, then the State could monopolise in cocoa production, Mr P.P. Balasubramanian, Director, Cashew and Cocoa Development (DCCD), under the Union Ministry of Agriculture told Business Line on Monday.

He said the State was planning to bring 2,000 hectares under the crop per annum. The programme was being implemented under the Centrally aided scheme for the crop and the Centre was making ``one basket payment''.

Karnataka has favourable climatic and geographical conditions conducive for cocoa cultivation.

Added to this, there were vast areas of irrigated coconut gardens where cocoa could be planted as intercrop without making much investment.

To meet the shortage of planting materials, he said, DCCD was encouraging the setting up of private cocoa nurseries in the State.

He said the developmental programmes were now implemented directly by the State Governments and the funds under various schemes were channelled to the States.

Under such schemes for cocoa besides Karantaka, Andhra Pradesh was also planting cocoa as an intercrop in coconut gardens.

The recent efforts by these States had raised the total area under this crop in the country to around 17,000 hectares from about 14,000 hectares. However, the production remained at the level of around 7,000 tonnes.

Increase in production could be expected only when these new plantations in these two States started yielding.

The gestation period was five years, he said.

If the current trend of planting in 2,000-3,000 hectares every year is done on a regular basis then there could be a gradual increase in the national cocoa production.

Current requirement of cocoa in the country is estimated at around 15,000 tonnes and it is likely to go up with the increase in per capita consumption of late.

Planting cocoa as an intercrop in irrigated coconut gardens will supplement the income of the coconut growers, who are reeling under financial crisis due to the unremunerative prices of coconut.

Besides, it would help raise the coconut yield also, he added.

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Karnataka to extend cocoa cultivation to 2 lakh hectares

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