A man harvests cocoa on his farm recently. AKP
Cocoa, while in strong demand in Cambodia and internationally, has seen limited large-scale cultivation in the country. Farmer Sar Enn has been experimenting with cocoa farming for a few years, having sourced saplings from a neighbouring nation.
Enn, residing in Boeung Mealea commune’s Trapeang Russey village in Siem Reap province’s Svay Leu district, shares that cocoa is relatively easy to cultivate regardless of soil type. However, it requires substantial water and is a long-lasting crop, providing fruit continually.
Speaking to The Post, Enn recalls that in 2020, he purchased over 300 saplings from Thailand at a cost of 12,000 riel each ($3). Unfortunately, they did not thrive; about 100 of them perished due to inadequate water supply, a crucial need for cocoa trees. With sufficient water, the trees can be harvested weekly.
Currently, Enn has over 200 fruit-bearing trees. He notes that they start producing fruit approximately one and a half years after planting. With ample water, each tree can yield an average of 20kg. From one tonne of cocoa beans, about 500kg of dried beans can be obtained, selling at roughly 60,000 riel ($15) per kg.
He also sells the cocoa peel at 1,200 riel ($0.30) per kg, which is purchased for producing cosmetic products.
“Previously, many people in Svay Leu district cultivated cocoa trees. However, due to the challenge of insufficient water for irrigation, the trees gradually died. Currently, there are approximately 1,000 cocoa trees remaining [here],” he says.
Enn explains to The Post that his decision to grow cocoa was driven by market potential. Before planting, he researched the benefits of cocoa beans. He says they are a vital raw material that can be integrated into various foods and beverages and cosmetics.
Regarding the market, Japanese, South Korean and American traders have shown interest in purchasing from him, but he is unable to supply them as he has already committed to selling to a company in the province, which uses the beans to produce biscuits, tea and other drinks.
“There are foreign traders who want to buy my cocoa beans, but I couldn’t sell to them as I don’t even have enough for the local buyer. Growing this crop in our country is like an experiment because people said it couldn’t thrive here. But I managed to grow it,” he explains.
Bo Pov, a cocoa grower and buyer of cocoa beans from farmers in Reaksmey Sangha commune’s Neang Lam village in Battambang province’s Ratanak Mondol district, says he has planted about 400 cocoa trees for seed collection.
Besides his own cultivation, he also purchases around 500kg of cocoa beans from other farmers during milling times.
He observes that in the district, a few families grow cocoa, but only on land left over from farming. Each family typically cultivates about 300 to 400 cocoa trees.
“The cocoa market is broad and there is demand in Thailand too. However, I collect all the cocoa beans from farmers, preventing them from selling to others. Regarding the benefits of cocoa, you can find cocoa-based products even in small stalls selling items for children, not to mention its use in cosmetic products,” he says.
Khim Finan, undersecretary of state and spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, says the ministry does not have any statistics on cocoa cultivation, and that it is not considered a priority crop for the national economy.
