COCOBOD ROLLS OUT NATIONWIDE FARMER SENSITIZATION CAMPAIGN ON FREE INPUT DISTRIBUTION AND MAJOR COCOA SECTOR REFORMS

Date: 13th July 2026

The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has commenced a nationwide farmer sensitization campaign to educate cocoa farmers on the reintroduced Free Fertilizer and Agro-Inputs Distribution Programme under the Cocoa Diseases and Pest Control (CODAPEC/HITECH) Programme, alongside a series of strategic reforms aimed at revitalizing Ghana's cocoa industry, improving farmer livelihoods, and securing the long-term sustainability of cocoa production.

The nationwide exercise, being undertaken by the Public Affairs Department in collaboration with the Cocoa Pest and Disease Control (CODAPEC) Unit of the Cocoa Health and Extension Division (CHED), began in the Western South Region with engagements in the Aiyinase, Huni Valley, Prestea, and Samraboi cocoa districts, and continued in the Ashanti Region, covering the Tepa, Mankranso, and Juaso districts.

The sensitization campaign, which is being rolled out across all cocoa-growing areas, will ensure that farmers fully understand the new interventions, the operational modalities of the free input distribution Programme, and the broader policy reforms being implemented to reposition Ghana's cocoa sector for sustainable growth.

Addressing hundreds of cocoa farmers during the engagements, the Deputy Head of Public Affairs, Mr. Benjamin Teye Larweh, commended farmers for their resilience, patience, and unwavering commitment to cocoa production despite the economic and operational challenges that have confronted the sector in recent years.

He assured farmers that COCOBOD remains firmly committed to restoring confidence within the industry through deliberate policy reforms, improved stakeholder engagement, and interventions designed to enhance productivity and improve farmer welfare.

Mr. Larweh acknowledged the temporary delays in producer payments, explaining that they resulted from financing constraints arising from the unprecedented decline in international cocoa prices. He, however, informed farmers that COCOBOD had released substantial funds to Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) to facilitate the settlement of outstanding producer payments. He expressed confidence that the payment process would be completed shortly, enabling farmers to reinvest in their farms ahead of the new crop season.

Touching on the increasing spread of misinformation surrounding the cocoa sector, Mr. Larweh cautioned farmers against relying on unverified information or narratives that have the potential to undermine confidence in the industry. He urged farmers to rely exclusively on official communication from COCOBOD and its authorized representatives.

"Always verify information through COCOBOD's official communication channels before accepting or sharing it. Accurate information is essential to protecting your livelihoods and safeguarding the integrity of Ghana's cocoa industry," he advised.

Mr. Larweh also disclosed that the Board is pursuing comprehensive legislative reforms through a new COCOBOD Bill currently being prepared for parliamentary consideration. According to him, the proposed legislation is expected to introduce far-reaching reforms in producer price determination, crop financing, institutional governance, and the protection of cocoa farms against illegal mining and other emerging threats confronting the industry.

He explained that the reforms form part of the Government's broader agenda to build a financially sustainable, transparent, and globally competitive cocoa sector capable of delivering greater value to farmers while maintaining Ghana's reputation as the world's leading producer of premium-quality cocoa.

Mr. Larweh also urged cocoa farmers to support ongoing traceability and sustainability reforms, stressing that Ghana’s cocoa industry must comply with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), the African Regional Standards (ARS), and other emerging consumer-centred requirements to preserve access to key markets and maintain the country’s premium cocoa reputation. He explained that these standards require farmers and other actors across the value chain to protect the environment, adopt responsible farming practices, and ensure that cocoa can be traced from the farm to the market.

Providing details of the reintroduced Free Fertilizer and Agro-Inputs Distribution Programme, the National Coordinator of CODAPEC, Mr. Seidu Iddrisu Abu, explained that the intervention represents a significant departure from the previous subsidized input distribution system.

He said the new programme introduces a fully government-funded input support system designed to improve productivity, reduce production costs for cocoa farmers and ensure a more transparent, equitable and efficient distribution of fertilizers and other critical agro-inputs.

Mr. Abu explained that eligibility for the programme is restricted to registered cocoa farmers with productive cocoa farms captured under the Cocoa Management System (CMS) and other official means.

He noted that abandoned farms, moribund farms, farms severely affected by Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease (CSSVD), and farms threatened by land-use conversion through illegal mining, rubber cultivation or residential development would not qualify for support under the programme.

He further indicated that fertilizer allocation would be based on scientifically determined agronomic criteria, taking into account the age, condition and productivity of individual cocoa farms.

Under the new guidelines, productive farms will receive three bags of granular fertilizer per acre, subject to a maximum allocation covering ten acres per farmer within a jurisdiction. Juvenile farms below four years will receive foliar fertilizer, while productive farms between four and twenty-two years will benefit from both granular and foliar fertilizers. Mature farms between twenty-two and thirty years will receive granular fertilizer to sustain productivity. He said consideration would be given to farms above 30 years that show great promise.

Mr. Abu announced that the programme would be implemented through 247 decentralized community distribution centres across the country under the supervision of Community Task Forces.

According to him, the decentralized model replaces the previous cooperative-based distribution system and incorporates robust accountability measures, including communal fertilizer application, retrieval of empty fertilizer sacks, publication of beneficiary lists and continuous field monitoring to minimize diversion, eliminate smuggling and ensure that the inputs reach their intended beneficiaries.

He appealed to farmers to cooperate fully with District Cocoa Officers, Community Task Forces, and extension personnel to ensure the successful implementation of the programme.

He further reminded beneficiaries that all fertilizers and agro-inputs supplied under the initiative are intended exclusively for application on cocoa farms and must not be diverted, sold, or used for any other purpose.

According to Mr. Abu, the health and safety of all stakeholders in the COPAPEC programme is of great importance to COCOBOD. As a result, 89,000 personal protective equipment (PPEs), including wellington boots, overalls, nose masks, hand gloves, hats, and goggles, are being distributed to spraying gangs across the cocoa regions. For the first time, society chief farmers will benefit from this.

Beyond the inputs and reforms, the campaign also includes education on the tertiary education scholarship for wards of cocoa farmers scheduled to be implemented in the 2026/27 academic year. The nationwide sensitization campaign forms part of COCOBOD's broader communication and stakeholder engagement strategy to place cocoa farmers at the centre of ongoing sector transformation through timely information dissemination, transparent programme implementation and sustained dialogue with farming communities.