Cashew Body To Look After Development Of Cocoa

In order to increase cocoa production, the Directorate of Cashewnut Development has now also been vested with the responsibility of implementing cocoa development programmes.

The directorate, now renamed as the Directorate of Cashew and Cocoa Development, proposes to increase the area under cultivation, output and productivity even while improving infrastructural facilities.

Use of modern production technologies and distribution of good 'planting material' would also form an important part during the Ninth plan, an official press release said here yesterday. The new directorate had come into effect from May 5.

Cocoa development programmes were earlier being looked after by the Directorate of Spices Development, Kozhikode.

 

Cocoa, a premier beverage crop which finds varied uses in confectionery industries in the country, is grown to a limited extent in Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

Cocoa production in the country is around 7,000 tonnes, which is three per cent of the installed industrial needs.