"It was not that successful - most of the saplings died," he says. Squirrels appeared to be making the situation worse by grabbing cocoa bean pods and eating them. But those raids had an unexpected benefit - cocoa seeds were spread all over the farm. Dr. Matthew noted, "All the scattered seeds soon grew into plants and they were much healthier and stronger than the saplings I had planted."
"The trick was in sowing the seeds," he realised. Today Mr. Matthews has 6,000 cocoa trees on his 50 acres of land. Reflecting on his journey, he stated, "I think it was the best decision I have made." This resilience in adapting to challenges showcases the power of nature's own systems.
Despite having several regions with weather conditions suitable for cocoa trees, India only accounts for 1% of the world's cocoa bean production. According to Renny Jacob, chairman of India Cocoa, "The challenge is that it is grown in very fragmented small holdings, so it does not get the kind of attention cocoa should get." This indicates the significant potential that remains untapped in the Indian cocoa sector.
He mentioned further, "Indian growers can only supply a quarter of the beans needed by Indian makers of chocolate and other confectionary." This highlights a glaring shortfall in local production capabilities compared to domestic needs, emphasizing the vast opportunities for growth in this agricultural sector.
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