THE country would need 3,200 tonnes of dry cocoa bean production a year to meet domestic demand, said Deputy Prime Minister Seri Fadillah Yusof.

He said in 2022, Malaysia produced 493 tonnes of dry cocoa beans, which was insufficient.

Fadillah, who is plantation and commodities minister, said the uptick in demand was mainly due to the increase in companies producing chocolate in the country.

“Our chocolatiers have increased but our cocoa supply is lacking. Most of the supply has to be imported from African countries.

“This means the cocoa industry has potential because of growing demand,” he told reporters after attending the Cocoa Plant Roadshow and Handmade Chocolate Demonstration programme in Bintulu today.

Fadillah said the government would encourage cocoa cultivation in areas including villages.

“At the village level, they can identify an area for planting and establish a cooperative.

“This cooperative will later be responsible for collecting, drying and selling the cocoa,” he said.

Fadillah said Malaysia’s cocoa plantation area stood at 5,985ha, with 1,454ha in Sarawak.

He said cocoa crops in Sarawak are concentrated in Kota Samarahan and Sarikei. – Bernama, October 28, 2023.