Cocoa

Water

Rain is enough, even in a dry year.

Needs about 1,490 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 2,270 mm it can use in a normal year, and 1,750 mm in a dry year.

Heavy rain here can waterlog it. Grow it on raised beds or land that drains well.

Temperature

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

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

• Jun 31 °C / 25 °C
• Jul 31 °C / 26 °C
• Aug 32 °C / 26 °C
• Sep 32 °C / 25 °C
• Oct 31 °C / 23 °C
• Nov 28 °C / 18 °C
• Dec 25 °C / 14 °C (outside its best range)
• Jan 24 °C / 12 °C (outside its best range)
• Feb 28 °C / 14 °C
• Mar 32 °C / 19 °C
• Apr 33 °C / 22 °C
• May 32 °C / 24 °C
• Jun 31 °C / 25 °C

Months in orange are outside its best range.

Soil

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

Not in the score: sulphur.

• 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 phosphorus.
• Most fields here are short of zinc.

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.