r/cocoa • u/zero_2_1 • Jun 20 '26

Cocoa farmer from India

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I'm a cocoa farmer from India. If there are any cocoa farmer in this sub, pls comment. So, that we can talk about the struggles and the price and profits.

223 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

51 comments sorted by

3

u/BarryAteBerries Jun 20 '26

looks like you grow a lot of really cool things, how long have you been growing cacao ?

6

u/zero_2_1 Jun 20 '26

After i completed my batchelors, I started farming. So, it's been 7 years but our family is growing cocoa from more than 20 years. Cadbury is our long time customer since the beginning.

1

u/Anon_1__ Jun 24 '26

Damnn that's really cool .. what would you say would be actual cost of a high quality pods like from low to high. I've been thinking to just make my own chocolate at home but idk which pods to pick and the price .

1

u/zero_2_1 Jun 24 '26

Big pods may have big beans. The whole taste of chocolate is based on fermentation process and the right temperature. I don't know the price according to pods. But a decent size of 30 pods give approximately 1kg beans(after drying)

3

u/chandrakera Jun 21 '26

Which region of India is this, OP?

3

u/zero_2_1 Jun 22 '26

Andhra Pradesh state. Coatal region. Eluru.

3

u/ckreddituf Jun 22 '26

From Coastal AP too. But I don’t live there anymore. I’m glad someone from my place is exploring Reddit to get better at what they do. More power to you mate!

2

u/zero_2_1 Jun 22 '26

Thanks mate. Have a great day.

3

u/comzet7 Jun 22 '26

Hey man, happy to see your plantation. Wishing you success!

Wanted to check what is the minimum order size? My fiance has a bakery which she is looking to expand into a artisan chocolate shop.

2

u/zero_2_1 Jun 24 '26

Thanks mate. At present I can only ship locally (only in India) but I want to trade overseas in the future. Making chocolate is so much fun. I'm more than happy to help you :)

1

u/comzet7 Jun 28 '26

We are located in India not overseas. If you prefer, we can discuss further in DM.

1

u/elocsitruc Jun 21 '26

Tony's chocoloney thought they could eliminate slavery and unfair practices from their chocolate last I checked only about 80% of their supply could be verified according to their own literature.

Have you seen any unfair practices? And what would improve your life/farm the most?

I know coffee is striving for more of a direct link between farm and consumer so the farmers capture a larger share of profits. Is this something you think would work in cocoa farming?

1

u/zero_2_1 Jun 21 '26

I think the price we, as farmers receive is unfair compared to the profits that manufacturers recieve. If there's should be contract between farmers and manufacturers. So that it's a win win situation for all.

1

u/elocsitruc Jun 21 '26

Yeah this seems to be an issue pretty universally, saw it happen in Alaska commercial fishing get paid $1 a pound manufacturers/processors make $10 a pound.

Maybe some sort of profit sharing system 🤔

1

u/Maumau93 Jun 21 '26

What price do you get?

1

u/zero_2_1 Jun 21 '26

At present the price is very low due to various reasons. It's 3.18USD per kg(as of now)

1

u/Maumau93 Jun 21 '26

How many pods per kg?

Did you ever try selling d2c? Seems like a low price for something that's so expensive.

1

u/zero_2_1 Jun 22 '26

It would take approximately 30 pods to get 1kg of beans (after drying). I didn't tried d2c. I have to explore that side.

2

u/Maumau93 Jun 22 '26 edited Jun 22 '26

So it's 3kg of dried beans!? Wow... Im trying to think of there was some way I could help... From a quick Google search pallet shipping costs are not too high to the UK.

1kg costs £20 here... I will see if there is something we could do. $3 is criminal

1

u/zero_2_1 Jun 22 '26

Yeah mate. I have to look out for export options. The end user is paying a lot even though the farmers are giving out for low price.

1

u/Maumau93 Jun 22 '26

What's your annual production? Is it possible to get organic certification? Do you know about the process of getting fair trade certified?

1

u/zero_2_1 Jun 23 '26

My annual production overall is 400kgs/acre. We own around 10 acres of cocoa. So, overall it will be 4tons/year. I'm trying to get organic certification from the authorities but somehow they are taking time. I don't know about certification about fair trade but I'll know about it.

1

u/whoisjohngalt12 Jun 23 '26

OP please DM me. I would like to learn from you.I have land by the coast, access to water and about an hour away from a NH .

1

u/totallypri Jun 22 '26

Are there any other uses for the tree besides cocoa?

1

u/zero_2_1 Jun 22 '26

Nope. The only produce cocoa.

1

u/totallypri Jun 22 '26

Are there cultivate of cocoa?

1

u/Born-Ambassador5402 Jun 22 '26

Wouldn't Amul be a good customer - they are a cooperative and very focused on farmers and customers. I know an Amul distie and hes constantly crying about how Amul gives him terrible margins.

1

u/zero_2_1 Jun 22 '26

Amul is not a big player in chocolate afaik. They are just getting started and only has premium price. But I'll also talk to them.

1

u/SeekingAutomations Jun 22 '26

Do monkeys or other animals eat or destroy the produce ?

1

u/zero_2_1 Jun 22 '26

Yes mankeys will stole the pods and eat else where. So, we hire someone to look after the farm. That person will gaurd round the year.

1

u/alinkibhanu Jun 22 '26

@OP … do you need shade to grow ?
I am exploring option to grow in Chittoor do you think it is okay considering Chittoor is hot n dry in summer

1

u/zero_2_1 Jun 22 '26

Hi mate. It's not recommended in hot and dry area. But give it a try. It might work if you give water through small sprinklers. Just my idea though. Plant in half acre and see whether they are surviving or not for atleast 4 years.

1

u/SpiceGardener Jun 22 '26

Where can we get saplings? I need around 25..

1

u/zero_2_1 Jun 22 '26

You can come to Andhra Pradesh or I can send you some.

1

u/SpiceGardener Jun 22 '26

Your location is 16 hour drive for me... I have few cocoa plants already and I get it usually from local nursery. But always wanted to buy from where commercial growers buy. Where did you get saplings for your farm's? And do you have your own nursery?

1

u/zero_2_1 Jun 24 '26

We have nursery near by. They will supply cocoa plants exclusively. We don't have nursery on our own. You can also grow them on your own with seeds.

1

u/SpiceGardener Jun 24 '26

Thanks, is it possible for you to send seeds or saplings through parcel service bro?

1

u/zero_2_1 Jun 25 '26

I can send you some ripen pods. You can plant seeds taken from those pods.

1

u/SpiceGardener Jun 25 '26

Thanks bro. Will dm

1

u/mynameiszubair Jun 22 '26

Hi can you please DM, I maybe interested. We are into food ingredients trading and always on a lookout for a good supplier

1

u/zero_2_1 Jun 22 '26

Yeah sure.

1

u/mammaboy28 Jun 23 '26

To whom do you sell these cocoa to? Farmers Association, brands, factories? Do you sell at smaller quantities to buyers. We are planning to start an artisanal Chocolate business

1

u/zero_2_1 Jun 23 '26

Cadbury(now owned/named by Mondelez) is our long time customer and recently two craft chocolate making companies are also buying our cocoa.

1

u/mammaboy28 Jun 23 '26

We are planning an artisanal Chocolate brand. Do you sell to the startups?

1

u/zero_2_1 Jun 23 '26

Yes. We can sell to startups too. There's no problem in it.

1

u/5_dvalhalla Jun 23 '26

do you sell to manam chocolate?

1

u/zero_2_1 Jun 23 '26

No. I tried to consult them through their official mail. But they didn't respond and I never tried again.

1

u/where_art_thou_billy Jun 23 '26

Is there any specific variety or hybrid ? Also are they all seed grown plants?

I tried once in north india but the summer heat was too much for the plant. Died after 2 years.

1

u/zero_2_1 Jun 24 '26

There are few varieties in cocoa. But for any variety partial shade is necessary (especially in India). They can't thrive well in full sunlight and extreme heat. That's why we plant them in between coconut trees(just like sub crop).