Cocoa farmers urged to apply by June 30 to avail of government subsidy

Cocoa farmers are advised to apply to the Department of Horticulture by June 30 to avail of the government subsidy for selling their produce, stated District Horticulture Officer S. Rammohan in a press note on Friday.

In a meeting held on May 23 by the State Agriculture Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu, along with the District Collector and cocoa farmers, it was decided that cocoa companies would purchase cocoa at ₹450 per kilogram. The State Government would provide an additional subsidy of ₹50 per kilogram, making it a total of ₹500 per kilogram to the farmer, he said.

Since June 26, cocoa farmers have been registering their names with the Horticulture Department and selling their produce to the companies. So far, 1,536 metric tonnes of cocoa beans have been purchased in the district through companies like Mondelez, D.P., Chakolat, and others. All cocoa farmers to obtain permits from their local Rythu Seva Kendras and sell their cocoa beans to the nearest companies before June 30 to avail of the benefit, he added.