Cocoa farmers evacuated after the government protested. ensure

Tourism and Culture Minister Kandula Durgesh interacts with farmers while negotiating the compensation price of cocoa in Rajamahendravaram City on Saturday

Tourism and Culture Minister Kandula Durgesh said on Saturday that the Mondelez International Group agreed to buy cocoa at a price of Rs 500 per kilogram in the Godavari area.

The minister interacted with farmers, merchants and other stakeholders to pay for cocoa after protests by farmers. Mr Durgesh said: “The cocoa farmers withdrew their protests after negotiations, guaranteeing a price of 500 rupees of 1 kg. We are committed to ensuring that the cocoa island grown in the Godavari area is sourced by the company.”

The minister said that in the East Godavari area alone, an estimated 2,000 tons of cocoa were produced, half of which had been purchased by Mondelez International. East Godavari co-collector S. Chinna Ramudu, East Godavari horticulture officer B. Sujatha, Mondelez International Assistant Manager K. Vijay Kumar.