Mumbai, April 9 - The Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI) has developed two new high-yielding cocoa varieties and is planning to release them soon, a senior official said on Wednesday.
"The two new varieties are NC 42/94 and NC 29/66," said D. Balasimha, head of Vittal regional station, a unit of CPCRI.
The new varieties have the capacity to produce about 1,000 kg per hectare and are also capable of withstanding drought conditions, he said. Normally, cocoa is grown in areas where water availability is adequate.
In India, the yield is about 600 kg per hectare, according to the latest data available on Directorate of Cashewnut and Cocoa Development.
"We are planning to provide the new varieties in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka," Balasimha said.
Since cocoa plants are sensitive to drought these two varieties would be helpful to farmers, he said. Cocoa is mostly grown as a mixed crop with arecanut and coconut.
Production would be around 10,000 tonnes in 2007/08, Venkatesh N. Hubballi, head of Directorate of Cashewnut & Cocoa Development, told Reuters in February.
The total area under cultivation was about 32,360 hectares in 2006/07, according to the latest data.