Cocoa is a commercial plantation crop. The seeds of cocoa fruit, yield flavored cocoa powder on fermentation. Cocoa is hardly grown as a mono-crop. Its imminent capacity to share the alley spaces of tall-growing Coconut and Arecanut palms and its combining ability with the microclimatic conditions available in such perennial gardens helps its cultivation in utilizing such areas without exacting for an independent growing climate of its own. In any groves of tall-growing palms where 40-50% sunlight penetration is possible, cocoa stands first to absorb such solar energy, remaining symbiotic to the main crop and generating additional income as well, besides helping the amelioration of the soil conditions making beneficial not only for its growth but also for the benefit of the main crop under which it takes its shelter.

The major area of cocoa cultivation in India are Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

The country has exported 36,186.34 MT of Cocoa products to the world for the worth Rs. 1,521.94 Crores/ 183.54 USD Millions during the year 2023-24.