Mato Grosso bets on cocoa to restore degraded land and boost exports

The Mato Grosso State Company for Agricultural Research, Assistance and Rural Extension (Empaer) will invest R$2.5 million in experiments with cocoa cultivation across the state’s three biomes — Amazon, Cerrado, and Pantanal. The goal is to assess Mato Grosso’s potential to join the international production route for the crop. The funds were allocated by the Mato Grosso Research Support Foundation (Fapemat).

The trials will be set up in strategic areas of Juína, Sinop, Tangará da Serra, and Cáceres — municipalities located 737 km, 503 km, 242 km, and 218 km from Cuiabá, respectively. Other cities in the Araguaia region and Baixada Cuiabana will also be selected to host the tests, which are scheduled to begin in 2026.

The research aims to provide technical recommendations to enhance productivity and improve the quality of cocoa beans, which are essential for supplying the fine chocolate industry. It also seeks alternatives to turn degraded areas into more profitable agricultural systems.

According to Empaer, cocoa can be grown either in full sun or intercropped with banana and lemon. Technicians believe the crop has the potential to become a new source of income for family farmers while also expanding Brazil’s exports.

The interest is reinforced by the international market. A crop failure in West Africa — a region responsible for more than 70% of global production — drove cocoa prices up more than 150% in 2024. This surge has opened the door for other countries, including Brazil, to compete for market share.

Specialists point out that expanding cocoa cultivation in Mato Grosso depends on adopting agroforestry systems, efficient irrigation, intensive management, and pest and disease control. The use of adapted clones, seedlings produced in protected nurseries, access to credit, and continuous technical assistance are also considered key factors in making production viable.

Fonte: VG Notícias

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