The three subdistricts are Cot Girek, Tanah Luas and Nibong, which host the widest cocoa plantations in Acehprovince, Kastabuna, the head of the plantation section at the North Aceh forestry and plantation officer, said here on Wednesday.
To support the designation, the local administration would give 25 cocoa growers the opportunity to undergo training to increase the productivity and quality of their cocoa plants, he said.
Through the training, it was hoped the productivity and quality of local cocoa plantations would increase in the future.
He said most cocoa growers in the three subdistricts had little knowledge about cocoa plantation management.
On a national scale, the government was expecting cocoa farmers in the country to be able to produce cocoa of high quality so that Indonesia could become one of the world`s main cocoa producers.
To date, Indonesia was one step behind Ivory Coast in Africa as the world`s main cocoa producer, he said.
"Therefore, through the government program we will train cocoa growers to develop cocoa plantations so the productivity and quality of their cocoa plants will rise," he said.
Cocoa plantations in the three subdistricts cover a total area of 8,620 hectares and produce a total of 2,680 tons year.
"Ideally, one hectare of cocoa plantation should be able to produce one ton per year," he said.
(T.ANT-287/S012/HAJM/A014)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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