Thousands of patrons showed up for the UWI Cocoa Research Centre’s World Cocoa and Chocolate Day Expo 2026 at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Cultural Cooperation in Mt Hope on Friday.
The venue was filled with excited students, inquisitive shoppers and agricultural enthusiasts who took full advantage of the educational opportunities, samples and, of course, the chance to support local exhibitors and artisans at the Expo.
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Ravi Ratiram, who attended the event, said he was encouraged by the large turnout.
“Today is a very exciting day. As you can see, the place is all packed out. A lot of young kids, youths are here to enjoy what the Expo has to offer. I did visit the Expo last year, and I can tell you from last year to this year the turnout is like about three or four times what we had last year.”
The Minister said the Government is working assiduously to revive the sector, which produces a premium commodity that fetches the highest return globally, generating significant foreign exchange for Trinidad and Tobago.
“Trinidad and Tobago has the number one cocoa in the world. Think about the pyramid of all the cocoa across the globe, Trinidad and Tobago sits on the top of that pyramid.”
The Ministry has identified more than 30,000 hectares for cocoa rehabilitation and is working to ensure farmers are equipped with the necessary planting material to boost production.
Against that backdrop, he emphasised the importance of partnerships with stakeholders such as the UWI Cocoa Research Centre and The Cocoa Development Company.
“First and foremost, I can tell you in terms of planting material, there was limited stock. Farmers found it difficult to get cocoa to rehabilitate their estates to start with. Traditionally, I think under the Ministry we would have done approximately 25,000 to 30,000 for the year. In the next year we anticipate we are going to be doing approximately 300,000-plus seedlings available to rehabilitate and to support our cocoa farmers.”
Director of the Cocoa Research Centre (CRC) at the University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine Campus, Professor Pathmanathan Umaharan, said research is being conducted to help farmers overcome challenges they may encounter.
“For instance, one of the challenges the farmers are facing is a disease called the witches’ broom disease, and we have new varieties that we have developed that are totally resistant to the disease, and so we are in the process of developing those varieties, multiplying them, and providing them to the farmers so that farmers would not have to face this risk anymore.”
Local chocolate, cocoa-infused condiments, desserts, snow cones, skincare products and pastries left patrons wanting more.
The Expo will conclude on Saturday.