In efforts to revitalize Ghana’s cocoa industry, the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has secured a US$100 million financing facility from the World Bank.

This substantial support aims to rejuvenate old cocoa farms across six key cocoa-growing districts in the country, including Assin Fosu, New Edubiase, Nkawkaw, and Juaso.

The four-year project is designed to address the pressing need for farm rehabilitation, focusing on cocoa trees that have surpassed 20 years of age. These aged trees, while not diseased, have outlived their productive lifespan, becoming ‘moribund’ and unproductive.

As COCOBOD CEO, Joseph Boahen Aidoo, emphasized during a recent field trip to Assin Fosu, “Once cocoa hits 20 years and above, it has spent its lifespan, and from that stage, you realize that it bears no fruits, no pods, and the flowers don’t come, yet the farmer would be maintaining such a farm, and this is not productive.”

The rehabilitation initiative will involve the cutting down of these old cocoa trees, land preparation, and the provision of essential planting materials, including seedlings and plantain suckers. Recognizing the extensive labor and resources required for such a transformation, COCOBOD is committed to providing comprehensive support to the beneficiary farmers.

This includes not only the supply of seedlings but also plantain suckers, labor for planting, and the deployment of extension officers to educate and assist farmers in managing their rejuvenated farms for optimal yields.

During the field visit, Boahen Aidoo highlighted the importance of this multifaceted support, stating, “If you cut the trees from this 30-hectare land, and you want the farmer to provide plantain suckers within one year, they cannot. That’s why we’re supporting them.”

Learning from Past Initiatives

Ghana has previously implemented similar projects with support from the African Development Bank (AfDB) under the Cocoa Rehabilitation Programme, which focused on eradicating the Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease (CSSVD). The lessons learned from these past initiatives will inform the current project, ensuring that the interventions are effective and sustainable.

During the field trip, farmers expressed their concerns about the deplorable state of roads in cocoa-growing areas, which hampers the transportation of produce post-harvest, leading to significant losses. Nana Kweku Appotoi IV, Aboabohene of Assin Nyankomase, urged COCOBOD to take decisive action to improve the road infrastructure in these communities.

In response, Boahen Aidoo assured that the government, buoyed by recent increases in cocoa prices, would allocate funds to address these infrastructural deficiencies. He also underscored the vital role of extension officers, noting that COCOBOD has increased the ratio of officers to farmers from one-to-three thousand to one-to-six hundred, nearing the FAO’s standard of one-to-five hundred.

Best Practices for Sustainable Cocoa Farming

Boahen Aidoo also took the opportunity to advise farmers on sustainable farming practices. He cautioned against growing cocoa in unsuitable soils such as sandy or clay, burning weeds, and using harmful weedicides like ’round up’ and glyphosate. These practices, he explained, damage the soil’s essential nutrients and reduce crop yields. Instead, he recommended leaving pruned branches on farms to serve as mulch and enrich the soil.

To further support farmers, COCOBOD has procured about 100,000 motorized slashers and pruners since 2020, which are available at district offices. These tools are intended to aid in clearing cocoa farms efficiently, thereby increasing productivity.

COCOBOD’s $100 million rehabilitation project, backed by the World Bank, represents a crucial investment in the future of Ghana’s cocoa industry. By providing comprehensive support, improving infrastructure, and promoting sustainable farming practices, COCOBOD aims to significantly enhance cocoa yields and the livelihoods of farmers across the six targeted districts. As this project unfolds, it holds the promise of not only rejuvenating old farms but also setting a precedent for sustainable agricultural development in Ghana.