Seminar-cum-awareness campaign on cocoa cultivation

The ICAR-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI), Regional Station, Kayamkulam, will organise a seminar-cum-awareness campaign at Lions Club Hall, Manimala, in Kottayam, on September 23. It will be inaugurated by Nagesh Kumar Anumala, Chief General Manager, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Kerala Regional Office.

The programme aims at strengthening farmer participation in cocoa cultivation, promote sustainable practices, and expand the shareholder base of Brown Gold Cocoa Producer Company Limited (BGCPCL), supported by NABARD. As part of the inaugural session, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed between BGCPCL and Kaliyar Estate of Harrisons Malayalam Limited to expand cocoa cultivation on its 100-acre estate at Konni.

A technical session will be led by A. Joseph Rajkumar, principal scientist, ICAR-CPCRI, on the topic Integrated Pest and Disease Management in Cocoa. In the afternoon, a Leadership Development Training Programme for the Board of Governors of BGCPCL will be conducted by Ajesh P. Joseph, Head of Department, School of Social Work, Marian College, Kuttikkanam.

Around 100 progressive cocoa farmers and patrons of BGCPCL are expected to participate in the event. For further details, contact: 9961623538 (Lalichan, CEO, BGCPCL) or 9447184735 (K.J. Varghese, Chairman, BGCPCL).