Cocoa

Water

Rain is enough, even in a dry year.

Needs about 1,400 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 1,580 mm it can use in a normal year, and 1,440 mm in a dry year.

Temperature

Grows best at 21–32 °C on average, and survives 10–38 °C.

Here, in its growing months (day / night):

• Jun 28 °C / 21 °C
• Jul 27 °C / 21 °C
• Aug 27 °C / 21 °C
• Sep 28 °C / 21 °C
• Oct 27 °C / 20 °C
• Nov 25 °C / 16 °C (outside its best range)
• Dec 22 °C / 13 °C (outside its best range)
• Jan 22 °C / 11 °C (outside its best range)
• Feb 25 °C / 13 °C (outside its best range)
• Mar 28 °C / 17 °C
• Apr 31 °C / 20 °C
• May 29 °C / 20 °C
• Jun 28 °C / 21 °C

Months in orange are outside its best range.

Soil

Soil for Cocoa: 8 out of 10 (good).

Not in the score: salt, sulphur, zinc and 4 more.

• The pH here suits it, though not most crops.
• Many fields here are short of potassium, which it needs a lot.
• Most fields here are short of nitrogen.

Likes pH 5.0–6.5.

Money

Yield: about 1.2 quintals an acre, the typical figure across India (no figures for your state).

A new planting gives its first real harvest after about 3 years. The money here is for plants already bearing.

No mandi or support price for this crop yet.