India's Cocoa Demand Hits 1.10 Lakh Tonnes, Production Only 30,000 Tonnes: Experts
Vitla / Puttur, 07 October 2026: India has significant scope to expand cocoa cultivation as domestic demand for cocoa beans is estimated at around 1.10 lakh tonnes, against domestic production of only about 30,000 tonnes, experts said at a workshop held at the ICAR-CPCRI Regional Centre in Vittal.
The workshop was organised on the theme “Self-Reliant Cocoa Sector: A Roadmap to 2047.”
Huge gap between demand and production
ICAR-CPCRI Director Dr K. Balachandra Hebbar said India has considerable potential to increase cocoa production. ICAR-CPCRI is studying cocoa cultivation as both a sole crop and an intercrop in arecanut- and coconut-based farming systems across different agro-ecological regions. Cocoa can also be cultivated as an intercrop in oil-palm plantations, apart from arecanut and coconut gardens.
According to experts, the large gap between domestic demand and production presents an opportunity for farmers to expand cocoa cultivation.
Quality planting material needed
Dr Hebbar said the availability of quality planting material is critical for expanding cocoa cultivation. CPCRI will evaluate the performance of cocoa plants raised from seeds, stem cuttings and grafted planting materials at its farm. The objective is to identify suitable planting materials and improve their availability to farmers.
India has scope to expand cocoa cultivation
Former CPCRI Director P. Chowdappa said India's per capita cocoa consumption is around 1 kg, compared with approximately 11.56 kg in Switzerland, 9.2 kg in the United States, 5.4 kg in Germany and 3 kg in the United Kingdom.
He said diseases had affected several major cocoa-growing regions globally in recent years, disrupting the international cocoa supply chain. Around 40% of India's cocoa production is concentrated in Andhra Pradesh, he said.
Andhra Pradesh government is also focusing on expanding cocoa cultivation and has initiated plans to develop a “Cocoa City” in Eluru district.
Opportunity amid global supply concerns
Former ICAR Deputy Director General (Horticultural Science) N.K. Krishnakumar said cocoa grown in the East and West Godavari regions of Andhra Pradesh is comparable to cocoa produced in Sudan and has good market potential in Europe.
He said instability in the African cocoa supply chain makes it important for India to invest in domestic cocoa production. Increasing cultivation could help India meet both domestic and international demand while creating another income opportunity for plantation farmers.
Cocoa as an intercrop for plantation farmers
For farmers in Karnataka's arecanut and coconut-growing regions, cocoa has particular relevance because it can be cultivated as an intercrop. The potential for cocoa-based diversification is therefore being studied by CPCRI as part of efforts to develop more productive and economically sustainable plantation systems.
CAMPCO President S.R. Satheeshchandra, YSRHU Andhra Pradesh Director Dr S. Surya Kumari, ICAR-ATARI Bengaluru Director Dr M. Prabhakar and CPCRI Vittal Regional Centre Head Dr M.K. Rajesh were among those present. CPCRI scientists Dr Elaine Apsara, Dr N.R. Nagaraj, Dr S. Paulraj, Dr Bhavishya, Dr Tavaprakash Pandyan and Dr Chaithra also attended the program.
Keywords: Cocoa cultivation in India, cocoa production India, cocoa demand India, cocoa farmers Karnataka, CPCRI cocoa research, cocoa intercrop arecanut, Vitla CPCRI, Vitla News, Puttur Suddi, Puttur News Today, Citizen News Puttur
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