Mohitnagar: West Bengal's cocoa hub to supply Mondelez's Guwahati chocolate plant

• Mohitnagar, West Bengal, is emerging as a key center for cocoa cultivation, aiming to become a "chocolate birthplace" in India.
• Mondelez International plans a chocolate production unit in Guwahati, driving demand for local cocoa supply in Northeast India.
• The Central Crop Plantation Research Institute in Mohitnagar has researched cocoa since the 1980s, developing high-quality grafted saplings.
• These advanced cocoa saplings yield fruit within three years, adapt well to various climates, and thrive in partial shade.
• Experts believe Northeast India's climate is highly suitable for cocoa cultivation, making Mohitnagar crucial for future chocolate production.

Why It Matters: Mohitnagar's cocoa farming could make India a key source for chocolate ingredients.