Experts push for expanded cocoa cultivation to achieve self-reliance

Agricultural experts have advocated expanding cocoa cultivation across India while ensuring access to quality planting material and certification standards. The push aims to reduce the country's reliance on cocoa imports and strengthen domestic production capacity.

Experts stressed that scaling up cocoa farming requires not just increasing the area under cultivation but also focusing on quality seeds and seedlings. Proper certification of planting material is seen as critical to ensuring higher yields and sustainable growth in the sector.