Bavina Sookdeo
Although TT’s Trinitario cocoa is globally renowned and has a high demand around the world, Christopher Paul, president of the Montserrat Cocoa Farmers Cooperative Society Ltd (MCF), says the current state of the cocoa industry is “not very bright.” He says more is needed to increase production. Paul is also calling for the revival of abandoned cocoa estates.
Business Day spoke to Paul, who explained that the production of dried cocoa beans in the country is in steady decline. In 2020, MCF exported 62.5 metric tonnes. That dropped to 37.5 metric tonnes in 2021, 25 metric tonnes in 2022, and 12 in 2023. Paul explained, “The main cause of this downward trend is climate change...the sharp seasonal change has become blurred.
“A sharp, distinct dry season is needed from January-May to shock the plants and cause them to go into survival mode and produce an abundance of flowers and pods. “What we had in the last couple of years was rain and sun for almost the entire year, with periodic floods in certain areas. This resulted in a disturbed plant cycle.”
The industry faces other challenges. Paul explained that cocoa land is now being used for other high-value crops, while some is converted for housing purposes. The ageing population of cocoa farmers, abandoned cocoa estates, both private and state-owned, and the limited encouragement for importing cocoa beans by the government, as well as the export of cocoa beans being a few hundred tonnes, are all challenges the industry faces.
“We need cocoa to export. Experts in the field say there are over 66,000 acres of abandoned cocoa land. “What is needed is to locate these lands and bring a major portion of it back into production by pruning and cleaning the bush and fertilising,” he said.
Asked about the impact of the rise in crime on the industry, he said it isn’t significantly affecting cocoa land – but: “Praedial larceny affects the companion crops.” He added that the collapse of the Gran Couva Main Road “is like stomping on a man when he is down. “Farmers cannot bring their beans to the fermenting for processing. The cooperative and other producers cannot bring in the 20-foot containers to export the beans, it is also a deterrent to local and foreign tourists.”
Key opportunities for the industry
“The opportunities are the high demand for every high-quality Trinitario cocoa bean produced. “The price for the fine-flavoured beans is better than bulk but not high enough for us. Other opportunities are in the value-added product, for example, dark chocolate, grated chocolate, cocoa powder, cocoa butter. Pharmaceuticals and scrubs are also markets that can be further exploited,” Paul said.
[caption id="attachment_1071600" align="alignnone" width="534"] Christopher Paul, president of the Montserrat CocoaFarmers Co-operative Society Ltd (MCF). Photocourtesy MCF[/caption]
But concern has been raised over the viability of the industry. “Viability is a serious issue, and strategies must be developed and actioned. We don’t want talkshops and
