With the receipt of fair trade certification from European agencies, Kochi-based Indian Organic Farmers Producer Company Ltd (IOFPCL) is likely to export 100 tonne of organic cocoa in 2008-09, company sources told FE. IOFPCL is farmers? collective formed in 2004 to promote the cultivation and export of organic produce. ?We have already exported 35,000 kg of cocoa in the last four months to Switzerland and hope to achieve our target of 100 tonne in the current fiscal,? Shiny George, CEO, IOFPCL, said.
IOFPCL has a contract with Switzerland-based chocolate manufacturer Chocolate Stella SA to supply high quality organic cocoa, Shiny said. ?They have assured us that they can consume up to 100 tonne in a year,? she added. The organisation had to wait three years to get the certification, which helps in getting a hefty premium for the products, Shiny added.
Cocoa growers in India mainly depend on Cadbury, a major chocolate maker, to sell the commodity. Directorate of cashew and cocoa development (DACCD) sources reveal that international chocolate manufacturing companies are turning to India because the quality of Indian cocoa beans is considered better compared to others. Currently, cocoa is cultivated around 30,000 hectare in the country. Andhra Pradesh is the leading state with 13,500 hectare, followed by Kerala with 10,500 hectare under cocoa.
Dry cocoa beans now fetch around Rs 80 per kg, while raw cocoa gets Rs 25-Rs 33 per kg. According to DACCD figures, India?s cocoa output is around 10,000-12,000 tonne per year. The country also imports around 4,000 tonne of cocoa beans every year. India is placed fourth in global cocoa production.