Planning Ministry project to boost cocoa production

Some 3,000 cocoa farmers are expected to benefit from a new cocoa project entitled “Cocoa Productivity and Quality Improvement: A Participatory Approach.” The Technical Co-operation Unit of the Ministry of Planning and Development pursued the negotiation of a cocoa project with the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), the International Cocoa Organisation (ICO) and the International Plant Genetic Resource Institute (IPGRI) on government’s behalf. The project comes in light of government’s commitment to “increased production of fine flavoured cocoa,” as identified in the sector policy for Food Production and Marine Resources 2001-2005, and the Agriculture Rehabilitation/Revitalisation Programmes.

By increasing the productivity levels of good quality cocoa at lower production costs, the project is expected to improve the economic welfare of cocoa farmers in TT. This is expected to take place through the selection and distribution of “improved cocoa varieties with higher yielding capacity, favourable disease resistance traits and traditional fine flavour quality.” The project will cost about $1,536,381 from which the CFC would provide $630,000 and $906,381 will come from the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Marine Resources. On the recommendation of the Minister of Planning and Development, Camille Robinson-Regis, Cabinet agreed to the participation of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Marine Resources in the cocoa project, as participation would strengthen the economic viability of the cocoa production sector, and benefit the cocoa farmers involved.