Cultivation of Cocoa: Suitable Factors Required for the Cultivation of Cocoa
- 1. Climate: Cocoa is essentially a plant of tropical region. The equatorial environment with high temperatures and heavy rainfall is the best. ...
- 2. Shade: Although cocoa requires much heat but direct sunlight is harmful to it. ...
- 3. Protection from Strong Winds: ...
- 4. Soil: ...
- 5. Labour: ...
- 6 .Transport: Since much of the cocoa produced is exported, a good network of transport is necessary. ...
What is the best temperature for growing cocoa beans?
Minimum temperatures above 65 degrees and an average temperature of around 80 degrees are recommended for optimal growth. Cocoa beans come from the cacao tree and are used to make cocoa and chocolate.
Can you grow cocoa beans in the United States?
For chocolate lovers, there is simply no substitute, and if cocoa beans could be cultivated anywhere, cocoa ( Theobroma cacao) trees might outnumber apple trees in American yards. They would certainly outnumber any plants that produced vegetables. Unfortunately, cacao trees don't thrive in the temperate climate of the continental United States.
Do cocoa trees need direct sunlight to grow?
That’s because cocoa trees only grow in climates where it is hot and humid all year long. Cocoa trees need neat and humidity, but they do not grow well unless they are planted near taller trees that will help shade them from the direct sun. That is why most people who grow cocoa trees also grow mangos or papayas.
When is the best time of year to plant cocoa trees?
Now coming to your question, it is best to plant cocoa trees during spring where the temperature is warm but not too hot to hurt this sensitive plant. You must also try to keep the plant damp between 65-85 degrees F. (18-29 C.) so it could thrive in its favorable conditions.
Where do cocoa beans grow best?
The Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Cameroon and Ghana are the top producers of cacao- 70% of the world's cocoa beans come from these West African countries. However, countries such as Indonesia, Peru, Venezuela and many countries in Central America and the Carribean also grow the bean.
What temperature do you need to grow cocoa?
Temperatures between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit are ideal for cacao trees. They have good heat tolerance as long as their moisture needs are met and their foliage isn't being scorched in strong sun. But they don't do well in cold temperatures or frost.
How long does cocoa take to grow?
It takes about 5 years (from seed) for a cacao tree to grow mature and start producing cacao pods. The beans grow in football-shaped pods on the trunk of the tree and from larger branches. The average cacao tree produces 30-40 cacao pods a year.
Which soil is good for cocoa?
sandy loam soilCocoa requires deep and well drained soils. Poorly drained soil affects growth of plants. Majority of area under Cocoa cultivation is on clay loam and sandy loam soil. It grows well in the pH range of 6.5 to 7.0.
Can cocoa be grown in the US?
Cocoa beans do indeed grow in the USA, but only in very limited areas. There is a narrow band known as the Cocoa Bet or the Chocolate Belt. That sounds more enticing that the Rust Belt or the Snow Belt! The Cocoa Belt essentially follows the tropics, extending twenty degrees north and south of the equator.
Can I grow a cocoa tree in my house?
Your cocoa plant will have the best chance if cultivated in a temperature-controlled, higher humidity greenhouse, but if this isn't an option for you and you're growing your plant indoors, just make sure that you choose a place to keep your pot that stays warm throughout the day.
How can we grow cocoa at home?
Place the seed vertically with the root end down and cover it with soil just to the top of the seed. Cover the pots with plastic wrap and place them on a germination mat to maintain their temperature in the 80s (27 C.). In 5-10 days, the seed should sprout.
How do I start a cocoa farm?
To start a cocoa plantation, the following are essential.Land acquisition, preparation and transplanting.Plant population, improved seedlings and sources.Tonnage yield per hectare.Economics of cocoa production.Free seedlings.
What temperature does cocoa grow?
Temperature. Cocoa plants respond well to relatively high temperatures, with a maximum annual average of 30 – 32ºC and a minimum average of 18 – 21ºC. Rainfall. Variations in the yield of cocoa trees from year to year are affected more by rainfall than by any other climatic factor.
Where do cocoa beans come from?
As a generalisation, fine or flavour cocoa beans are produced from Criollo or Trinitario cocoa-tree varieties, while bulk cocoa beans come from Forastero trees. There are, however, known exceptions to this generalisation. Nacional trees in Ecuador, considered to be Forastero-type trees, produce fine or flavour cocoa.
Why is cocoa soil important?
The cocoa tree is sensitive to a lack of water, so the soil must have both water retention properties and good drainage. Chemical Properties. The chemical properties of the topsoil are most important, as the plant has a large number of roots for absorbing nutrients.
How to grow cocoa from seed?
Seeds will germinate and produce good plants when taken from pods not more than 15 days underripe. Cuttings. Tree cuttings are taken with between two and five leaves and one or two buds. The leaves are cut in half and the cutting placed in a pot under polyethylene until roots begin to grow.
How much humidity does cocoa have?
In cocoa producing countries, relative humidity is generally high: often as much as 100% during the day, falling to 70-80% during the night. Light & Shade. The cocoa tree will make optimum use of any light available and traditionally has been grown under shade.
How much rainfall does cocoa need?
Rainfall should be plentiful and well distributed through the year. An annual rainfall level of between 1,500mm and 2,000mm is generally preferred. Dry spells, where rainfall is less than 100mm per month, should not exceed three months.
What is the habitat of cocoa trees?
Climate Conditions. 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.
How high can cacao be grown?
The IPCC reported that Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana’s optimal altitude for cacao cultivation is expected to rise from 350–800 feet (100–250 meters) to 1,500–1,600 feet (450–500 meters) above sea level.
Where do cacao trees grow?
In short, cacao trees thrive in rainforests. Chocolate is now grown around the globe —typically within 10° north and south of the equator.
What is the name of the tree that provides shade to cacao trees?
Known in Brazil as cabruca, this approach involves retaining, or in some cases replanting, other rainforest trees, which provide cacao trees with shade. (Like Northern European tourists in the Mediterranean, cacao trees benefit enormously from shade.)
How does cabruca help the environment?
Cabruca offers one more advantage: Carbon that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere when forests are cleared isn't. It remains stored in the trees. A study conducted in southern Cameroon and published in 2009 found that cacao forests in that region store on average 243 metric tons per hectare (about 2.5 acres). (For comparison, in 2011–2015, the World Bank reported, U.S. citizens released about 17.0 metric tons of carbon dioxide per person per year.) Another study, conducted in Brazil and published in 2014, concluded that judicious cabruca practices could double cacao production in a climate-friendly manner.
Why are cacao trees taller?
The taller trees also provide protection from wind and soil erosion, and nutrient-rich leaf litter. Cacao trees cultivated in this approach appear less vulnerable to pests, and the soil better retains its ability to support cacao over the long term.
What is the best adaptation strategy for cacao?
One adaptation strategy could be providing cacao growers with selectively bred seeds that have superior drought resistance. Another strategy involves a traditional cacao cultivation method that takes advantage of the conditions under which cacao naturally grows.
Where is chocolate grown?
Chocolate is now grown around the globe —typically within 10° north and south of the equator. The world's leading producers are Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Indonesia. Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana produce over half of the world's chocolate.
How much will the temperature of cocoa be in 2050?
Temperatures in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana are expected to rise by 3.8°F by 2050.
What happens to a tree when the temperature rises?
As temperatures rise, evapotranspiration increases. This causes the moisture from the tree to quickly evaporate leaving the plant too dry to survive. The increase in temperatures will drive the plants to higher elevations to more sustainable temperatures for growth.
Is cocoa better for the climate?
However, scientists across the world are working on a plan to breed a new types of cocoa plants that are more water efficient and better suited for the forecasted climate.
Where can I grow cacao trees?
Growing cacao trees requires mimicking these conditions. In the United States, that means the tree can only be grown in USDA zones 11-13 – Hawaii, parts of southern Florida and southern California as well as tropical Puerto Rico. If you don’t live in these tropical climes, it may be grown under warm and humid conditions in a greenhouse but may require more vigilant cocoa tree care.
How long do cacao trees live?
Cacao trees can live for up to 100 years but are considered productive for only around 60. When the tree grows naturally from cocoa tree seeds, it has a long, deep taproot. For commercial cultivation, vegetative reproduction via cuttings is more commonly utilized and results in a tree lacking a taproot.
How to root beans with no roots?
If your seeds have no roots yet, place them between damp paper towels in a warm (80 degrees F. plus or over 26 C.) area until they begin to root. Pot the rooted beans in individual 4-inch (10 cm.) pots filled with damp seed starter.
Where did cacao originate?
Cocoa beans come from cacao trees, which reside in the genus Theobroma and originated millions of years ago in South America, east of the Andes. There are 22 species of Theobroma amongst which T. cacao is the most common. Archaeological evidence suggests that the Mayan people drank cacao as early as 400 B.C.
When did cacao plantations start?
By the seventeenth century , all of Europe was mad about cocoa and rushed to lay claim to lands suited to cacao production. As more and more cacao plantations came into being, the cost of the bean became more affordable and, thus, there was an increased demand. The Dutch and Swiss began establishing cocoa plantations established in Africa during this time.
Can you make cocoa from cacao beans?
They require extensive fermenting, roasting and grinding before you, too, can make a cup of cocoa from your own cacao beans.
How long does it take for cocoa to grow?
Cocoa trees grow slowly. It takes three to five years for cocoa trees to produce pods with beans for making chocolate.
What are cocoa beans used for?
Cocoa Bean Facts for Kids 1 Chocolate is the number one use for cocoa beans, but it isn’t the only thing they are good for. Cocoa beans can also be used for… 2 The oil taken from cocoa beans before they are roasted is called cocoa butter. It is used to make chocolate and many other food items. 3 Some animals like to eat cocoa bean hulls. 4 The hulls from the cocoa beans are used as mulch. Mulch is what people put around trees and in flower beds to keep the weeds from growing. 5 Cocoa is not used to make white chocolate.
What is cocoa butter?
The oil taken from cocoa beans before they are roasted is called cocoa butter. It is used to make chocolate and many other food items. Some animals like to eat cocoa bean hulls. The hulls from the cocoa beans are used as mulch. Mulch is what people put around trees and in flower beds to keep the weeds from growing.
What did the Mayans use cocoa beans for?
The Mayans even used cocoa beans for money. Mayan Indians used cocoa beans to buy slaves and animals.
How long do cocoa trees live?
Cocoa trees can live up to two hundred years, but will only produce cocoa beans for about twenty-five of those years. A tree produces about one thousand cocoa beans every year. That is enough to make about two pounds of chocolate.
Why do cocoa trees grow all year long?
That’s because cocoa trees only grow in climates where it is hot and humid all year long.
What is the purpose of roasting beans?
Roasting the beans dries them so they can be crushed into cocoa (chocolate powder).
