KAU sets up coca garden to provide better saplings to farmers in Idukki

Published - September 12, 2026 07:12 pm IST

The polyclonal cocoa garden at the Cardamom Research Station in Pampadumpara in Idukki. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Aiming to revive cocoa farming among growers in the State, a polyclonal cocoa garden has been established at the Cardamom Research Station (CRS) in Pampadumpara. According to officials, the garden was set up to provide high-yielding cocoa saplings to farmers.

The garden was established as part of the Mondelez Cocoa Collaborative Research Project, funded by Mondelez Foods India Private Limited (formerly Cadbury India) and implemented under the leadership of the Cocoa Research Centre at Kerala Agricultural University (KAU), Vellanikkara.

Nimisha Mathews, assistant professor and head of the Cardamom Research Station, said that Idukki and neighbouring districts were once major hubs for cocoa farming.

“Over the years, cocoa farming declined significantly across the district. However, following the recent price surge, a large number of farmers have been seeking cocoa seedlings, and KAU centres faced a shortage. Given the situation, the university decided to set up polyclonal cocoa gardens across various centres,” said Dr. Mathews.

Minimol J. S., principal Investigator of the Mondelez Cocoa Research Project and professor and head of the Cocoa Research Centre at KAU, noted that only around 20% of the cocoa planting material currently required by the country’s farmers belongs to superior varieties.

“The new cocoa garden offers fresh hope for research aimed at increasing the availability of superior, high-yielding, and disease-resistant cocoa varieties. The facility houses 21 cocoa clones, designated CCRP 1 to CCRP 21, developed by Kerala Agricultural University for their desirable genetic traits. Superior hybrid seedlings developed from seed pods produced here will be distributed to farmers nationwide through Mondelez Foods India Private Limited,” she said.

“ The planting material derived from seed pods in the polyclonal garden will play a key role in expanding cultivation. The new plants will begin producing planting material in one and a half years, reaching full production capacity within five years,” said Dr. Minimol.

According to officials, the project has transformed five acres of previously underutilised land at the research station into a productive research and development facility.

“Cocoa thrives in cool, shaded canopy environments, and Idukki’s climate is well-suited for cultivation. By planting high-yielding varieties, farmers can achieve better yields and steady income throughout the year,” said the official.

In April 2024, the price of dried cocoa beans hit an all-time record of ₹1,000 per kg. Following the price spike, demand surged among growers, turning the scarcity of quality planting material into a serious issue.

Published - September 12, 2026 07:12 pm IST