Fri Feb 21 14:45:21 UTC 2025: ## Andhra Pradesh to Boost Cocoa Cultivation with New Nursery
**Amalapuram, Andhra Pradesh – February 21, 2025** – A new cocoa nursery will be established at the Horticulture Research Station (HRS) in Ambajipeta to promote cocoa cultivation as an intercrop in coconut orchards across Andhra Pradesh’s western and central Godavari delta. The initiative, announced Friday, aims to significantly increase cocoa production in the region.
Dr. R. Mahesh Kumar, the District Collector of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district, directed HRS scientists to establish the nursery. Currently, over 2,400 acres in the district utilize cocoa intercropping in coconut plantations, which cover over 100,000 acres. The goal is to expand cocoa intercropping to 3,000 acres within three years, providing farmers with subsidized inputs to support this expansion. The Godavari delta has proven to be ideal for high-quality cocoa yields, according to the Collector. The nursery will ensure a reliable supply of high-quality cocoa plants for local farmers.
First Piper 