The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD has officially re-launched the Free Fertiliser Distribution Programme as part of the government’s commitment to support cocoa farmers to improve farm productivity.
The initiative also sought to ease the financial burden of purchasing fertiliser and enhance farmers’ livelihoods.
Speaking at the launch in Sefwi-Wiawso, Dr Randy Abbey, Chief Executive Officer, COCOBOD, directed CHED officials to use technology to register farmers, noting that the move would eliminate favouritism, cut out middlemen, and ensure fertilisers and other agro inputs reached cocoa farmers directly.
He expressed concern about how cocoa swollen shoot disease negatively affected cocoa production in the Western North Region, reducing it from 340,000 metric tonnes annually to 140,000 metric tonnes.
He assured that COCOBOD was aggressively galvanising massive capital injections from development banks and private sector partners to rehabilitate diseased farms and restore farmers’ livelihoods.
The COCOBOD CEO further announced that the Board was working to kick-start the tertiary scholarship for cocoa farmers’ children starting in the 2027/2027 academic year.
Dr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, COCOBOD Board Chairman, urged farmers to ensure they properly apply the fertilisers they receive to improve soil fertility and increase cocoa yields.
He also cautioned against diverting the fertiliser, saying enhanced tracking technology had been deployed to monitor distribution from the warehouse to farms and ensure the intended beneficiaries received the inputs.
Mr Wilbert Petty Brentum, the Western North Regional Minister, said COCOBOD’s decision to relaunch the programme in the region underscored the government’s continued commitment to revitalising the cocoa sector, improving productivity, and enhancing the livelihoods of cocoa farmers.
He lauded farmers for demonstrating resilience and determination to sustain the cocoa industry despite the negative impacts of the cocoa swollen shoot and other diseases on farms.
Mr Brentum further called for the privatisation of the rehabilitation programme in the region, saying the move would help provide the much-needed financial relief to farmers.
Nana Ofori Ahenkan II, Chief of Bonzain and Acting President of the Wiawso Traditional Council, who chaired the programme, said cocoa farmers’ dedication over the years has significantly boosted Ghana’s cocoa production fortunes.
He emphasised that the free fertiliser distribution would not only secure the future of Ghana's cocoa sector, but ultimately improve the livelihoods of cocoa farmers and their households.
He urged cocoa farmers to take full advantage of the programme, use it for its intended purpose, and follow recommendations and application guidelines to achieve the best results.
Some farmers in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, lauded the government and COCOBOD for the initiative, saying it would help improve yields.
They also welcomed COCOBOD’s decision to begin scholarships for their children in the next academic year, saying it would ease their financial burden.