Amid the ongoing woes of rubber farmers owing to a slump in prices, a glimmer of hope has emerged with rates of the cocoa beans picking up.
Vendors have reported that the price of dried cocoa beans has reached an unprecedented ₹360 per kg, bringing relief and joy to cocoa farmers in the State. Key cocoa cultivation zones include Idukki district, encompassing areas such as Kamakshy, Thankamani, Mariyapuram, Thodupuzha, Thadiyampadu, and Thopramkudy.
Jose Joseph, a cocoa vendor based in Thadiyampadu in Idukki, expressed enthusiasm about the record-breaking prices. “For the first time, dried cocoa beans are commanding ₹360 per kg, while wet cocoa beans are fetching ₹130 per kg. This marks a significant increase from last year’s rates of ₹230 and ₹80 per kg, respectively,” he said.
