Clive Bryan, Gleaner Writer

The Cocoa Industry Board (CIB) is reporting a significant increase in cocoa supplied by farmers in the months following the announcement of a 100 per cent increase in the price paid per box for raw cocoa.

Nauburn Nelson, secretary/ manager of the CIB, says that a growing number of cocoa farmers are now seeking technical assistance to revive existing fields. Farmers are also requesting seedlings and other inputs to plant new fields, Mr. Nelson told Farmers Weekly.

He says there has been a marked improvement in the supply of raw cocoa from farmers since the price increase was announced in August. He explains that the CIB bought just over 600 boxes from farmers in August this year, compared with 40 boxes in August last year. This trend continued in September with the board buying close to 700 boxes, compared with 36 boxes in the same period last year.

New price

The new price comes into effect for this fall's crop - October 2006 to March 2007. One tree has the ability to produce about a box of raw cocoa.

According to Mr. Nelson, the current weather pattern is good for planting cocoa, and so the CIB is working to ensure that farmers take full advantage of the favourable conditions. He says emphasis is being placed on rehabilitating existing farms in the main cocoa growing parishes of St. Mary, St. Thomas, St. Catherine and Clarendon.

The annual demand for Jamaica's fine flavoured cocoa is estimated at 1,500 tonnes. However, Mr. Nelson says only 220 tonnes of the product was produced last year. About 15,000 farmers are involved in the production of cocoa on about 12,000 hectares of land.