By Wallace J.A

GRENVILLE, St.Andrew’s (April 1, 2006): The Grenada Cocoa Association, through its chairman, Dr. Reginald Buckmire, announced to the nation yesterday, that the prices paid to cocoa farmers for their produce is expected to increase from the month of April, 2006. Wet cocoa will now be purchased for $1.00 per pound while dried cocoa will be purchased for $2.50 per pound.

According to Dr. Buckmire, the Cocoa Association was able to offer this price increase to farmers because one of the leading manufacturers of chocolate in the world has made a decision to increase the quantity of cocoa purchased from the Spice Island. This decision seems to be predicated on the fact that Grenada’s cocoa is of an excellent quality in comparison to cocoa from other parts of the world. This means that the Grenada Cocoa Association can purchase all the cocoa that Grenadian farmers can produce and pay a good price for it. Dr. Buckmire hopes that this would get more people in Grenada into cocoa farming.

Grenada’s three major agricultural export crops were nutmegs, cocoa and bananas. After Hurricanes Ivan and Emily, the vast majority of nutmeg and banana trees on the island were severely battered and destroyed. The greater part of the cocoa trees in Grenada, however, was able to withstand the ravages of these hurricanes.

Many cocoa farmers have expressed satisfaction with the price increase and it is hoped that farmers who had hitherto deserted their lands will develop a rekindled interest in the farming sector.