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cocoa farming
- Thread starter sagar1044
- Start date
Hi
What are the climatic conditions required for growing Cocoa
Cocoa grows well in regions where temperature ranges from 15-320C.
In which type of soil will cocoa grows It grows in wide range of soils. Well drained rich soils acidic to neutral in reaction are best suited. The soil should have a minimum soil depth of 1.5 m.
How cocoa plants are propagated
Cocoa can be propagated by seed and vegetative means.
How seedlings are propagated
Collect seeds from biclonal or poly-clonal seed gardens and sow during December- January so that 4-6 month age old seedling become available for planting by May-June.
Where will get these seed and seedlings of cocoa
Polyclonal and biclonal seed gardens have been established at CPCRI, Vittal & Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikara and seeds and seedlings are being supplied to the growers.
What are the varieties recommended for cocoa planting
Name of variety Yield (kg/ plant)
wet bean dry bean
KAU,Vellanikara
M 16.9(CCRP1) 6.2 2.5
M 13.12(CCRP 2) 5.2 2.4
GI 5.9 (CCRP 3) 6.5 2.9
GII 19.5(CCRP 4) 8.3 3.9
GIV 18.5 (CCRP5) 4.3 1.7
G VI 55(CCRP 6) 11.3 3.1
GVI 56 (CCRP 7) 9.7 4.0
CPCRI,Vittal
I-56 7.0 22.8
I-14 7.5 24.8
III-105 4.0 13.1
NC 42/94 3.0 10.0
What is the site required for planting cocoa
Cocoa is usually planted under coconut and arecanut plantations in India where more light will let in through the canopy .
What is the spacing for planting cocoa
In coconut gardens , the effective spacing of cocoa plants would be 3m x 7.5 m accommodating 614 plants per ha.
In arecanut gardens the spacing may be 5.4m x 2.7m and the population would be 689 plants per ha.
What is the season for planting cocoa
Cocoa seedling or budded plants can be planted at any time of the year provided soil moisture conditions are favourable. The best time for planting is by the onset of pre-monsoon showers in May-June.
What is the method of planting
Planting is done in pits of 50cm cube and filling with a mixture of surface soil and organic manures.
What are the post planting care for cocoa
Immediately after planting, basins may be mulched with organic materials. In Summer, provide mulch materials with Chopped banana sheath, coocnut husk, Cocoa husk etc. to conserve moisture when Shade is not optimum.
What is the quantity of fertilizer required for cocoa
The quantity of nutrients and fertilisers recommended for cocoa plants of different age groups are given below.
-----------------------------------------------
Nutrient I Yr. II Yr. III Yr.
(gm/tree)
-----------------------------------------------
N 33 66 100
P2O5 13 26 40
K2O 46 92 140
-----------------------------------------------
How and when to apply fertilizers to cocoa
Fertiliser application for rainfed cocoa is recommended in two splits, the first coinciding with the monsoonal rains in May-June and the second by the close of Monsoons by September- October. For Irrigated cocoa, fertilisers may be applied in equal split during May-June, September-October, December and February.
Method of application: The best method is to rake in and mix fertilisers with soil in shallow basins of around 150 cm. radius for grown up plants. Basin size may be 25cm during the first year and the radius is gradually increased to 150cm. by the third year.
Whether cocoa plants require irrigation
Irrigation may be given once in 5 days. Irrigation helps in better growth of plants and precocity in bearing.
What is the harvesting period of cocoa and how it is harvested
It takes 150-170 days from pollination for attaining harvest stage. Ripening takes about 25 days and pods remain suitable for harvesting for fairly long time. Harvesting should be at regular intervals – once in 7-10 days. The peak harvesting periods are October-December and April-June.The harvested pods can be stored upto Four days, which enhances prefermentation
Activity inside the pods and helps to get good quality cured beans.
What are the methods used for fermentation cocoa beans
The different methods used for fermentation involves keeping together a mass of reasonable quantity of wet beans for a period of 4-6 days. The beans are to be mixed thoroughly on alternate days. The pulp around the beans is lost and a series of biochemical changes occur in the beans which are necessary for imparting chocolate flavour. Heat is produced by keeping fresh beans compactly and the heat must be conserved so that chemical changes inside the bean is completed.
The heap method, tray method and box method are the standard methods adopted for fermentation .
What are the major pests of cocoa
Among the various pests infesting cocoa, the major ones are pod borer, tea mosquito, Rats, squirrels, grey weevil, mealy bugs, Cock chaffer, citrus, aphid etc.
How to control major pests The control measures are indicated below
Pest/Disease Symptoms Control measures
Red borer Infects mainly young plants Spraying carbaryl 0.1%
and causes drying up of plants
on the stem
Tea mosquito Attack the pods. Circular water -do-
socked spots develop on the
infested pods and cause defor-
mation of fruits.
Black pod Attacks fruits. Circular brown spot Spray 1% Bordeaux
Disease on pod surface appears and pod mixture before monsoon.
Becomes dark brown or black.
Vascular Leaves develop into small Apply 1% Bordeaux
Streak die- sharply defined green spot mixture
Back with yellow background
Striped squi- Destroy the pods and extract Cover pods with punched
rrels and the beans. Polybags (150 guage)
rats smeared with bitumen-
kerosene mixture.
What are the climatic conditions required for growing Cocoa
Cocoa grows well in regions where temperature ranges from 15-320C.
In which type of soil will cocoa grows It grows in wide range of soils. Well drained rich soils acidic to neutral in reaction are best suited. The soil should have a minimum soil depth of 1.5 m.
How cocoa plants are propagated
Cocoa can be propagated by seed and vegetative means.
How seedlings are propagated
Collect seeds from biclonal or poly-clonal seed gardens and sow during December- January so that 4-6 month age old seedling become available for planting by May-June.
Where will get these seed and seedlings of cocoa
Polyclonal and biclonal seed gardens have been established at CPCRI, Vittal & Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikara and seeds and seedlings are being supplied to the growers.
What are the varieties recommended for cocoa planting
Name of variety Yield (kg/ plant)
wet bean dry bean
KAU,Vellanikara
M 16.9(CCRP1) 6.2 2.5
M 13.12(CCRP 2) 5.2 2.4
GI 5.9 (CCRP 3) 6.5 2.9
GII 19.5(CCRP 4) 8.3 3.9
GIV 18.5 (CCRP5) 4.3 1.7
G VI 55(CCRP 6) 11.3 3.1
GVI 56 (CCRP 7) 9.7 4.0
CPCRI,Vittal
I-56 7.0 22.8
I-14 7.5 24.8
III-105 4.0 13.1
NC 42/94 3.0 10.0
What is the site required for planting cocoa
Cocoa is usually planted under coconut and arecanut plantations in India where more light will let in through the canopy .
What is the spacing for planting cocoa
In coconut gardens , the effective spacing of cocoa plants would be 3m x 7.5 m accommodating 614 plants per ha.
In arecanut gardens the spacing may be 5.4m x 2.7m and the population would be 689 plants per ha.
What is the season for planting cocoa
Cocoa seedling or budded plants can be planted at any time of the year provided soil moisture conditions are favourable. The best time for planting is by the onset of pre-monsoon showers in May-June.
What is the method of planting
Planting is done in pits of 50cm cube and filling with a mixture of surface soil and organic manures.
What are the post planting care for cocoa
Immediately after planting, basins may be mulched with organic materials. In Summer, provide mulch materials with Chopped banana sheath, coocnut husk, Cocoa husk etc. to conserve moisture when Shade is not optimum.
What is the quantity of fertilizer required for cocoa
The quantity of nutrients and fertilisers recommended for cocoa plants of different age groups are given below.
-----------------------------------------------
Nutrient I Yr. II Yr. III Yr.
(gm/tree)
-----------------------------------------------
N 33 66 100
P2O5 13 26 40
K2O 46 92 140
-----------------------------------------------
How and when to apply fertilizers to cocoa
Fertiliser application for rainfed cocoa is recommended in two splits, the first coinciding with the monsoonal rains in May-June and the second by the close of Monsoons by September- October. For Irrigated cocoa, fertilisers may be applied in equal split during May-June, September-October, December and February.
Method of application: The best method is to rake in and mix fertilisers with soil in shallow basins of around 150 cm. radius for grown up plants. Basin size may be 25cm during the first year and the radius is gradually increased to 150cm. by the third year.
Whether cocoa plants require irrigation
Irrigation may be given once in 5 days. Irrigation helps in better growth of plants and precocity in bearing.
What is the harvesting period of cocoa and how it is harvested
It takes 150-170 days from pollination for attaining harvest stage. Ripening takes about 25 days and pods remain suitable for harvesting for fairly long time. Harvesting should be at regular intervals – once in 7-10 days. The peak harvesting periods are October-December and April-June.The harvested pods can be stored upto Four days, which enhances prefermentation
Activity inside the pods and helps to get good quality cured beans.
What are the methods used for fermentation cocoa beans
The different methods used for fermentation involves keeping together a mass of reasonable quantity of wet beans for a period of 4-6 days. The beans are to be mixed thoroughly on alternate days. The pulp around the beans is lost and a series of biochemical changes occur in the beans which are necessary for imparting chocolate flavour. Heat is produced by keeping fresh beans compactly and the heat must be conserved so that chemical changes inside the bean is completed.
The heap method, tray method and box method are the standard methods adopted for fermentation .
What are the major pests of cocoa
Among the various pests infesting cocoa, the major ones are pod borer, tea mosquito, Rats, squirrels, grey weevil, mealy bugs, Cock chaffer, citrus, aphid etc.
How to control major pests The control measures are indicated below
Pest/Disease Symptoms Control measures
Red borer Infects mainly young plants Spraying carbaryl 0.1%
and causes drying up of plants
on the stem
Tea mosquito Attack the pods. Circular water -do-
socked spots develop on the
infested pods and cause defor-
mation of fruits.
Black pod Attacks fruits. Circular brown spot Spray 1% Bordeaux
Disease on pod surface appears and pod mixture before monsoon.
Becomes dark brown or black.
Vascular Leaves develop into small Apply 1% Bordeaux
Streak die- sharply defined green spot mixture
Back with yellow background
Striped squi- Destroy the pods and extract Cover pods with punched
rrels and the beans. Polybags (150 guage)
rats smeared with bitumen-
kerosene mixture.