Lok Sabha Question No. 2700 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-05
Subject: Promotion of Cocoa Production
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Putta Mahesh Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2700

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 05 TH  AUGUST, 2025

## PROMOTION OF COCOA PRODUCTION

2700. SHRI PUTTA MAHESH KUMAR: Will  the  Minister  of  AGRICULTURE  AND  FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष  एवं  ͩकसान  कãयाण मंğी be pleased to state: (a)  whether  the  Government  has  undertaken  any  study/  survey  regarding  cocoa  farming across the country during the last five years; (b)    if  so,  the  details  regarding  the  total  amount  of  cocoa  production  during  the  last  five years across the country, State and district-wise in Andhra Pradesh especially from Eluru district; (c)    the  details  regarding  the  steps  undertaken  by  the  Government  to  promote  cocoa production in the country, including the list of schemes/ initiatives regarding the same during the last five years; and (d)    whether  the  Government  has  undertaken  any  steps  to  address  the  price  fluctuations and additional concerns as raised by cocoa farmers, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reason therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण राÏय मंğी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a)  &  (b):  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)-  Central  Plantation  Crops Research Institute (CPCRI) has undertaken studies across various states to promote cocoa cultivation which includes experimental evaluation of cocoa genotypes under nine centres at Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Gujarat, Assam, Maharashtra and Karnataka during the last five years for its soil, climate suitability and field evaluation of cocoa clones & hybrids and multi-location trials under coconut and oil palm plantation canopies.

The state wise production details of cocoa for the last five years, including Andhra Pradesh are given  at Annexure-I. Eluru  is  one  of  the  major  cocoa  producing  Districts  in Andhra Pradesh.

(c):  The  Government  promotes  cocoa  cultivation  through  the  Mission  for  Integrated Development of Horticulture  (MIDH) , which  covers all  States  and  Union  Territories  (UTs) including Andhra Pradesh. The details of the assistance for promotion of Cocoa plantation under MIDH are given at Annexure-II . The Directorate of Cashewnut & Cocoa Development (DCCD), Kochi under the Department acts as the nodal agency and supports area  expansion,  productivity  enhancement  and  technology  transfer.  During  the  last  five years,  1218  hectares  have  been  brought  under  cocoa  cultivation  by  the  Directorate. Additionally, 11 cocoa nurseries with a capacity of 33.55 lakh hybrid seedlings have been accredited  for  quality  planting  material  production.  ICAR-CPCRI  has  released  8  cocoa varieties with improved yields and developed scientific cultivation methods such as canopy management, high-density planting, hedge systems and multispecies cropping.

(d):  Cocoa  being  a  commercial  crop,  its  prices  are  market-driven  and  influenced  by international and domestic factors. The Government of Andhra Pradesh during 2024-25 has sanctioned  ₹14.88  crore  for  procurement  of  unsold  cocoa  beans  at  a  support  price  of ₹50/kilogram (kg). A total of 2358.92 Metric Tonnes (MTs) of cocoa beans were procured from 3776 farmers through various agencies.

## Annexure-I

## The state wise production details of cocoa for the last five years in India

| Production in '000 MT   | Production in '000 MT   | Production in '000 MT   | Production in '000 MT   | Production in '000 MT   | Production in '000 MT   | Production in '000 MT   |
|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|
| Sl. No.                 | STATE/UT's              | 2019-20                 | 2020-21                 | 2021-22                 | 2022-23                 | 2023-24                 |
| 1                       | Andhra Pradesh          | 10.40                   | 10.90                   | 11.45                   | 12.14                   | 12.38                   |
| 2                       | Karnataka               | 3.50                    | 3.70                    | 3.91                    | 4.06                    | 4.14                    |
| 3                       | Kerala                  | 9.20                    | 9.60                    | 10.13                   | 10.54                   | 10.75                   |
| 4                       | Tamil Nadu              | 2.70                    | 2.80                    | 2.94                    | 3.06                    | 3.12                    |
| All India               | All India               | 25.80                   | 27.00                   | 28.43                   | 29.80                   | 30.39                   |

## Annexure-II

## Details of the assistance for promotion of Cocoa plantation under MIDH

| Component                                                                                                                           | Cost Norms     | Pattern of Assistance                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Area Expansion of Cashew and Cocoa (a) Without drip Irrigation (i) Regular Spacing (drip should be in converged with other schemes) | Rs 75,000 /ha. | Assistance @40% in general areas for an area upto 2 ha. on pro-rata basis for meeting the expenditure on planting material and other input cost of in 2 instalments of 60:40 subject to survival rate of 80% in 2 nd year. In the case of NE & Himalayan States, Scheduled areas, vibrant villages, Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands, assistance will be@ 50% for an area upto 2 ha. on pro rata basis. |
| (b) With Intercropping                                                                                                              | Rs 50,000 /ha. | Assistance @40% in general areas for an area upto 2 ha. on pro-rata basis for meeting the expenditure on planting material and other input cost of in 2 instalments of 60:40 subject to survival rate of 80% in 2 nd year. In the case of NE & Himalayan States, Scheduled areas, vibrant villages, Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands, assistance will be@ 50% for an area upto 2 ha. on pro rata basis. |

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