THE Cocoa Industry Board (CIB) is reporting an increase of more than 100 per cent in the production of cocoa for the 2011/2012 crop year.

Some 476.5 metric tonnes of cocoa, valued at $150.6 million, were produced during that crop year, as against the 2010/2011 crop year, which recorded 216.5 metric tonnes.

Co-ordinator for Extension Services at the CIB, Dunstan Gaynor says the Board is committed to accelerating the growth of the cocoa industry, and in this regard, will undertake various initiatives to increase production.

Currently, an estimated 7,000 farmers are engaged in the farming of some 8,800 acres of cocoa across the island, with Clarendon recording the highest acreage.

The cocoa sector was given a boost in 2012, with the injection of ¤375,000 through the Rural Re-engineering Cocoa Rural Economy through Agro-processing, Eco-Tourism and Entrepreneurship (RECREATE) project.

Funding for the project was provided by the European Union (EU) early in the last decade when the World Trade Organisation (WTO) removed the preferential treatment for African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) bananas.

Ranked among the best exclusive producers of fine or flavoured cocoa by the International Cocoa Organisation (ICO), Jamaica presently exports cocoa to Japan, Switzerland, Holland, France and the United States of America.

According to Gaynor, the support of organisations such as the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) and the Jamaica 4-H Clubs is essential to the CIB achieving its target.

“The involvement of young people is also crucial to the sector. Each school with an on-going agricultural programme and adequate land will be assisted to set up a one-half to one acre of cocoa demonstration plot. Special attention will also be given to 4-H Clubs,” Mr. Gaynor said.

He explained that 4-H centres with existing cocoa plots will be assisted to rehabilitate these plots and those without will be assisted to establish one-acre plots. Cocoa is grown in almost every parish, but the major cocoa producing parishes are Clarendon, St Mary, St Catherine, St Andrew and St Thomas.