Explain why cocoa bean production is most likely a plantation effort.
Answers
Answer:
Explanation:
Cocoa is an important commercial plantation crop of the world. Cocoa is a crop of humid tropics and so it was introduced as a mixed crop in India in areas where the environments suit the crop. It is cultivated in coconut and arecanut plantations large scale from 1970 onwards. It is grown as an under- storey intercrop with sufficient shade in southern states of India. In India, the current production is about 12,000 Metric Tonnes and Tamil Nadu produces about 400 Metric Tonnes.
Climate and soil
The natural habitat of the cocoa tree is in the lower storey of the evergreen rainforest, and climatic factors, particularly temperature and rainfall, are important in encouraging optimum growth. Cocoa is a perennial crop, and it can withstand different seasonal variations with good health and yield potential. Cocoa is normally cultivated at altitudes upto 1200 m above MSL with an annual rainfall of 1000mm to 2000mm and a relative humidity of 80 % with maximum 350C and minimum temperature of 150C. Cocoa can be grown as intercrop in coconut and arecanut gardens. It is predominantly grown on red laterite soils. It thrives well on wide range of soil types with pH ranging from 4.5- 8.0 with optimum being 6.5- 7.0.
Varieties
There are three varietal types in cocoa namely Criollo, Forastero and Trinitario. Forastero types are known to perform well under Indian conditions. Kerala Agricultural University has released 7 improved clones of Forestero types namely CCRP – 1, CCRP – 2, CCRP – 3, CCRP – 4, CCRP– 5, CCRP – 6 and CCRP – 7 and 3 hybrids CCRP – 8, CCRP – 9, CCRP – 10. Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Vittal has released one clone named as VTLCC-1 and 4 hybrids namely VTLCH1, VTLCH2, VTLCH3 and VTLCH4. Based on survey made during 2008-2012 in TamilNadu, totally 151 trees were identified for yield and quality. These trees were continuously evaluated and best performing ten elite trees were selected and named as TNAUCC1 to TNAUCC10. The clonal propagation of these trees are in progress.
Propagation
Cocoa can be propagated by seeds. Seeds are to be extracted from pods. Cocoa pods take 150-170 days from pollination to attain the harvest stage. The stage of maturity is visible from the change of pod colour from green to yellow (Forestero) and red to yellow (Criollo). Collection of seeds from biclonal or polyclonal seed gardens involving superior self-incompatible parents is recommended to ensure genetic superiority of planting materials. In TNAU coconut nursery, a poly clonal seed garden with 7 improved clones of KAU (CCRP1 to CCRP7) and Vittal cocoa clone 1 and 4 hybrids namely VTLCH1 to VTLCH4.
Criteria for selection of mother plants for collection of seeds:
Forastero type (green- immature, yellow- ripe) having medium to large pods of not less than 350 g weight, smooth or shallow furrows on the surface without prominent constriction at the neck can be selected.
Husk thickness of pods should be less than 1 cm.
Pod value (number of pods to give 1 kg wet beans) should be less than 12.
Number of beans per pod has to be more than 35.
Bean dry weight to be more than 1 g.
The best seeds for sowing are those from the middle of the pod.