Johari: More involvement from industry players, smallholders needed to boost national cocoa production

KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia’s cocoa production needs to be increased with the involvement of more industry players and smallholders in an effort to meet the growing market demand for the commodity.

Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said the country can only produce about 450 tonnes of cocoa beans per year, compared to about 300,000 tonnes per year 20 years ago.