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Cocoa Cultivation

If we retrospect, in this region there was a notion that plantation only means growing Areca nut and Coconut. But in recent years farmers have started growing cocoa in between the Areca nut and coconut gardens. Under the National Horticulture Mission (NHM) scheme and Directorate of Cashew and Cocoa Development-Cochin (DCCD), Kadamba has heralded revolutionary changes in this region.

Kadamba Foundation had organized hundreds of awareness programmes across Uttara Kannada district and reached almost every village of the region. As a result, today thousands of farmers have taken up this crop and found their prosperity.

Objectives of project cocoa development in Karnataka have been prepared on the following objectives.

  • To increase the economic status of the farmers of Karnataka.
  • To efficiently utilize the inter space available in Areca nut and Coconut plantations in the district.
  • To introduce the new hybrid varieties of Cocoa in the district to get the better yield.
  • To increase the qualitative produces of Cocoa in the region.
About

Theobroma cacao, also called the cacao tree or the cocoa tree is a small evergreen tree belonging to Malvaceae family, native to the deep tropical regions of the Americas. In India, it is mainly cultivated in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu mainly as intercrop with Arecanut and Coconut.

Medicinal Benefits

Cocoa is one of the richest sources of polyphenols. It’s especially abundant in flavanols, which have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Cocoa, both in powdered form and in the form of dark chocolate, may be able to help lower blood pressure. Flavanol-rich cocoa improves the level of nitric oxide in your blood, which relaxes and dilates your arteries and blood vessels and improve blood flow thus reducing risk of heart attack and stroke. In addition to cocoa’s positive impact on age related mental degeneration, its effect on the brain may also improve mood and symptoms of depression. Though overconsumption of chocolate is certainly not good for blood sugar control, cocoa does, in fact, have some anti-diabetic effects.

Commercial use

As pelletised dry 100% cocoa pod husk, it can be used as an animal feed. In the preparation of soft drinks, fresh cocoa pulp juice is collected, sterilised and bottled. For the production of alcoholic drinks, such as brandy, the fresh juice is boiled, cooled and fermented with yeast. Alcohol is distilled after 4 days. Cocoa bean shells can be used as an organic mulch and soil conditioner for the garden. Cocoa butter is used in the manufacturing of chocolate. It is widely used in cosmetic products such as moisturising creams and soaps.

Cocoa Plants distribution details
Year No of Plants Area ( in Ha) No of Farmers Subsidy(Amt in ₹) Income Generation (present) in ₹
2009-10 350000 700 2050 14000000
2010-11 175000 350 650 7000000
2011-12 200000 400 833 7420000
2012-13 100000 400 686 7420000
2013-14 150000 500 734 9130000
2014-15 150000 500 785 9130000
2016-17 27200 55 91 935000
Total 1152200 2905 5829 55035000 126022000