Mexico is to invest MXN400 million (US$29.2 million) in planting 400 million organic cocoa trees which will make it the largest producer on the American continent.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development and Fishing (SAGARPA) launched the first phase of the Mayan Biosana project by announcing 100 million organic trees would be planted with an investment of MXN100 million (US$7.3 million) shortly.

The scheme is aimed at broadening profitable crops for farmers in the tropics and creating 2000 jobs for 12 communities living in the south eastern Mexican state of Quintana Roo.

Humid tropics programme coordinator (PTH), Pedro Ernesto del Castillo Cueva, explained each of the four phases would require 100 million pesos in irrigation technology.

He said the project would use international technology for growing and harvesting organic cocoa. Sophisticated irrigation systems would be built to give a high performance with low operating costs and minimum wastage.

Del Castillo Cueva said the new plantation aims to have a yield of 2.5 metric tons per hectare and will also have a processing plant aimed at producing high quality chocolate.

The project will also offer training grants and support for independent cocoa producers with the potential of developing 300 extra hectares.

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Photo: En.wikipedia.org

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