Put more lands in cocoa

Secretary Manager of the Cocoa Industry Board, Steven Watson, wants more persons to invest in the product so as to ensure its viability and sustainability within the agricultural sector

"The industry needs investments to grow; investment in farms, investment in upgrading fermenting facilities and investment in capturing more of the value chain, locally," he said.

Watson was speaking at a workshop on implementation, communication, mobilisation and institutional strengthening within the cocoa sector, at the Jamaica Exporters' Association, Kingston on Friday.

Watson said that two projects funded by the European Union and the United States Agency for International Development, for the rehabilitation of 3,000 acres of previously neglected cocoa, are being undertaken. He said the projects have all the relevant components to encourage the best practices to be undertaken by the farmers.

Share resources

Watson urged farmers to cluster and share resources and best practices, in an effort to reduce the level of investment risks.

"Even with a moderate increase in production for these acreages, there will be a significant impact on the amount of beans produced locally," he said.

He added that Jamaican cocoa is one of seven whose production has been designated as 100 per cent fine-flavoured.

The secretary manager also restated the position of the minister of agriculture, Dr Christopher Tufton, that the commercial operations of the Cocoa Industry Board will be privatised and divested, in the near future.

Watson said that with the commercial operations privatised, the role of the Board would be to regulate the industry, to ensure that "our fine-flavour status is maintained."

"Issuing of licences will also be a part of the regime and, when production grows, there is the possibility that marketing development support will be given to the players in the sector," he said.