Cocoa Farming in Ghana: Are large-scale commercial farms the answer to declining yields?

Ghana’s cocoa industry faces significant challenges, threatening its status as the world’s second-largest producer. Illegal gold mining, known as galamsey, continues to destroy vast tracts of cocoa farms across all cocoa-growing regions, except for the Volta and Oti areas.

The galamsey menace has also polluted major water bodies in key cocoa-growing regions such as the Western and Eastern regions. Additionally, pests and diseases—most notably Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease (CSSVD) and Black Pod Disease—contribute to declining yields.

Pests like capsids also cause substantial losses in cocoa production. Further compounding the issue is cocoa smuggling, which hampers Ghana’s ability to meet its production targets.

Several interventions have been introduced to address these challenges, but many have been inefficient or poorly managed. The Cocoa Rehabilitation Programme, launched in 2019 with support from the African Development Bank and later the World Bank, has seen success in the Western North and parts of the Bono Region but has struggled elsewhere.

Similarly, the Cocoa Disease and Pest Control Programme (CODAPEC), introduced in the early 2000s to assist farmers in combating pests and diseases, has not significantly curbed the decline in production.

Ghana’s cocoa output, which peaked at one million tonnes in the 2010/2011 season, dropped to a record low of approximately 650,000 tonnes in 2022/2023 and even lower in the 2023/2024 season. This concerning trend raises urgent questions about the industry's sustainability.

Low Yields per Hectare

Cocoa yields in Ghana remain significantly lower than in cocoa-producing regions of South America. The country averages about 450kg per hectare, compared to 2,000kg per hectare in Brazil and Ecuador. Several factors contribute to this disparity, including limited land for expansion, high cocoa seedling mortality due to unfavorable weather, and the absence of large-scale irrigation infrastructure.

Additionally, Ghana's cocoa farming sector is burdened by an aging farmer population—averaging over 55 years—alongside aging cocoa trees, high labor costs, and persistent labor shortages. The increasing rural-to-urban migration of young people, who often view cocoa farming as an unattractive career, further threatens the industry’s future.

Given cocoa's strategic importance to the nation and economy, urgent measures are needed to address these challenges. The key question remains: How can this be done sustainably?

Large-Scale Commercial Cocoa Plantations

Some experts argue that Ghana should adopt a large-scale plantation model on government-designated agricultural lands, such as the Afram Plains in the Eastern Region or other state-acquired lands free from galamsey threats and land disputes.

The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), as the industry regulator, is expected to lead such an initiative. However, skepticism remains due to past mismanagement of government-owned plantations, which were eventually handed back to communities due to poor oversight.

Despite these concerns, modern technology and innovative management strategies could make large-scale cocoa farming viable. Many current farming practices in Ghana are considered outdated and need urgent reform.

Proposed Solutions

To improve efficiency and productivity, several modern strategies could be implemented:

Drone Technology: Drones can be used for monitoring farms and applying agrochemicals, reducing health risks associated with manual spraying.

Demonstration Farms: COCOBOD could mandate district officers to establish demonstration farms, serving as both income-generating projects and model farms for local farmers.

Public-Private Partnerships (PPP): COCOBOD could collaborate with private investors, where the government provides land and technical expertise while investors supply funding. The farm’s output would then be shared among stakeholders.

Irrigation Infrastructure: Large-scale farms must operate under irrigation to ensure consistent yields, with support from the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority.

Soil Fertility Management: Research shows that soils previously cultivated for cocoa may not yield the same output in subsequent cycles. Implementing proper soil management techniques is crucial for maintaining productivity.

Untapped Potential in the Volta and Oti Regions

The Volta and Oti regions present significant potential for large-scale cocoa farming. These areas have minimal exposure to illegal mining and abundant freshwater resources, both of which are essential for irrigation. The Quality Control Company of Ghana has also identified these regions as producing some of the highest-quality cocoa beans in the country.

Key Success Factors

For large-scale cocoa farming to succeed, COCOBOD should consider introducing high-yielding cocoa varieties, such as CCN 51 and PNG SG2 clones, which are currently cultivated in South America and Australia. The Seed Production Division (SPD) of COCOBOD must also be strengthened to multiply and distribute these improved planting materials.

Additionally, SPD owns large tracts of land earmarked for seed gardens, many of which remain uncultivated. These should be developed to support national cocoa production efforts.

COCOBOD's Cocoa Health and Extension Division (CHED) already implements the Cocoa Rehabilitation Programme, making it well-positioned to establish new farms. Meanwhile, the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) can provide cutting-edge research and technical expertise to ensure the program’s success.

Given COCOBOD’s existing knowledge and experience, the implementation of large-scale commercial cocoa farms should not be an unfamiliar undertaking but rather an extension of its current responsibilities.

A Game-Changer for Ghana’s Cocoa Industry

Considering the current challenges in Ghana’s cocoa industry, the establishment of large-scale commercial cocoa farms under a well-structured PPP model, with strong oversight from COCOBOD, could transform the sector.

Additionally, more attention should be given to COCOBOD’s other mandate crops, including coffee, shea nuts, and cashew nuts, ensuring they are not neglected in Ghana’s push for agricultural commercialization.

This approach would boost productivity, address labor shortages, improve farmer livelihoods, and secure the long-term sustainability of Ghana’s cocoa industry.

The new Chief Executive of COCOBOD must prioritize this initiative to strengthen Ghana’s position as a global cocoa powerhouse and leave a lasting legacy in an industry that supports more than two million Ghanaians.