Big boost for cocoa production
published: Tuesday | March 29, 2005

GRANT

President of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) Senator Norman Grant said that 6,000 acres of cocoa will be replanted across the island under a cocoa rehabilitation programme to begin shortly.

An officer has already been identified to spearhead the project, Senator Grant said. He was speaking at the 18th annual St. Mary Agri Expo in Oracabessa, St. Mary, on Sunday.

Despite an increase in the export demand for cocoa, production has been falling significantly, moving from 74,426 thousand boxes in 1994 to 17,040 boxes in 2002. He said the decline has resulted in annual earnings falling from $45 million in 1994 to $10 million in 2002.

cocoa production figures

1994 ­ 74, 400 (boxes)

1995 ­ 69, 500

1996 ­ 38, 500

1997 ­ 38,900

1998 ­ 46,900

1999 ­ 15,700

2000 ­ 28, 500

2001 ­ 20, 600

2002 ­ 17,040