Cocoa cultivation enhances income of coconut farmers :

Coconut farmers in the district are reaping dividend by raising cocoa crop in their farms.

Thanks to the supply of cocoa seedlings free of cost by the Horticulture Department as also subsidy towards planting saplings of the crop that grows only in shady conditions, farmers have increased the area under cultivation to over 300 hectares over the last four to five years, according to Deputy Director of Horticulture Prabu

A leading chocolate manufacturer has been procuring the cocoa produced by the coconut farmers at the rate of Rs. 150 per kg at a centre in Kavindapadi.

The department advocates planting of 200 saplings per acre. A minimum of 1.5 kg cocoa seeds could be sourced per plant. A farmer could rest ascertained about producing 300 kg. per acre, and making additional income, Mr. Prabu said. The awareness about raising cocoa crop has been catching up well with coconut farmers, he said.

Farmers have increased the area under cultivation to over 300 hectares

Source : The Hindu