Cocoa production in the country is expected to double to 30,000 tonnes by 2025, a top official of Directorate of Cashewnut and Cocoa Development Board (DCCD) said today.

At present, the country is producing only 15,600 tonnes against the demand of 45,000 tonnes from the ever-growing chocolate industry, requiring large-scale imports, DCCD Director Venkatesh Hobbali told reporters.

Speaking on the sidelines of a national seminar on ‘Cocoa Development in India—Issues and Strategies’ here, he said the country imported cocoa worth Rs 804 crore in the last fiscal.

He added that the domestic production, mainly concentrated in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka, is expected to touch 30,000 tonnes by 2025.

Though Kerala was cultivating cocoa in smaller area, it contributed a major share of 7,000 tonnes and Tamil Nadu’ s share was 1,500 tonnes, Venkatesh said.

Earlier, inaugurating the seminar, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Vice-Chancellor K Ramasamy asked the scientists to be equipped to know the minute details, before introducing or suggesting any seedlings or seeds to the farmers.

Enhancing quality, yield and productivity, would be beneficial for the end-users, in this case chocolate industry, but the scientists, who stood for farmers, should take care the interests of 65 per cent of the population depending on agriculture, Ramasamy said.

Ramasamy has asked the Directorate to sanction a Centre of Excellence for Cocoa to TNAU, which can serve as a model farm for the farmers to visit and undergo hands on training on different aspects of cocoa cultivation.

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