Metro India News | Hyderabad 

In a significant relief for cocoa farmers, Andhra Pradesh Agriculture Minister Kandula Durgesh announced that cocoa beans will be procured at Rs.500 per kilogram, following Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s directives. The announcement was made during a meeting on Saturday, at the minister’s camp office in Nidamarru. 

The procurement will be handled by multinational company Mondelez, which agreed to offer the minimum support price after discussions with the state government. The decision comes as farmers face uncertainty due to a sharp drop in market prices. 

Minister Durgesh assured farmers that the government is committed to protecting their interests and ensuring that no cocoa bean goes unsold. He urged traders to maintain fair pricing and foster a strong partnership between farmers and companies. 

He emphasized that this initiative is not just about price support but about building long-term trust between cultivators and the industry, ensuring stability and transparency in the cocoa sector.