Plantation Crops

Introduction

COCOA (Theobroma cacao L.)

Family : Sterculieaceae

Cocoa is a popular beverage crop after tea and coffee

Theobroma : Name given by Linnaeus meaning “ Food of the Gods"

Greek name Theos = Gods and Broma = Food Cocoa consumption is mainly in temperate countries.

Europe : 50 percent of consumption of cocoa produced in the world

America : 40 percent of consumption of cocoa produced in the world

 Cocoa is relatively a new crop in India, Cocoa ( Theobroma cacao L. ) is a native of Amazon region of South America. The bulk of it is produced in the tropical areas of the African continent. There are over 20 species in the genus but the cocoa tree Theobroma cacao is the only one cultivated widely.

 Cocoa being a tropical crop, India offers considerable scope for the development. Cocoa is mainly grown in Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.