Business News of 2026-11-06
COCOBOD relaunches free fertilizer programme with 3.5 million bags for cocoa farmers
The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has relaunched its free fertilizer distribution programme, with 3.5 million bags of fertilizer expected to be distributed to cocoa farmers across the country for the 2026 farming season.
The programme also includes the distribution of 1.8 million litres of liquid fertilizer, 2.3 million litres of insecticides and 1.5 million kilogrammes of fungicides to farmers at no cost.
The initiative was officially launched at Sefwi Wiawso in the Western North Region on Friday, November 6, 2026, under the theme, “Cocoa Sector Reset: Free Fertilizer for Increased Productivity and Improved Farmer Income.”
It replaces the previous government fertilizer subsidy arrangement with a fully free distribution system.
According to COCOBOD, the initiative is aimed at reducing the cost of cocoa production, cushioning farmers against recent post-harvest losses and improving productivity to strengthen the country's food security.
The programme also forms part of the government's 24-Hour Economy initiative and the FEED Ghana agricultural transformation agenda.
The relaunch fulfils a promise made by President John Dramani Mahama during the launch of the Farmer Service Centre at Takoratwene in the Kwahu Afram Plains South District of the Eastern Region in March 2026.
Launching the programme, the Board Chairman of COCOBOD, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, said the initiative demonstrated the government's commitment to restoring productivity and strengthening the cocoa industry.
He said it was also intended to improve the livelihoods of cocoa farmers, who deserved government attention and support.
Acknowledging challenges such as ageing cocoa trees, labour shortages and declining soil fertility, he assured farmers that the government would take steps to address them.
“It is by this that President John Mahama's government has relaunched the free fertilizer and agro-inputs programme to support cocoa farmers and relieve them of the financial burden of production to achieve higher yields,” he stated.
“Cocoa farmers are the backbone of Ghana's cocoa industry, and supporting them with the necessary farm inputs is critical to reversing the decline in production, restoring confidence in the sector and improving their incomes, he added.
The Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD, Dr Randy Abbey, cautioned farmers against diverting, hoarding, selling or smuggling the free fertilizers and other agro-inputs provided under the programme.
He warned that anyone found engaging in such activities would be severely dealt with, urging beneficiaries to comply with the distribution guidelines.
The CEO appealed to farmers to demonstrate appreciation for the government's intervention by using the inputs for their intended purpose.
“The free distribution of these inputs comes with responsibility. Farmers must ensure that the fertilizers and other agro-chemicals reach their intended beneficiaries and are used exclusively on their cocoa farms. We will not tolerate any diversion or abuse of this intervention," he empathised.
The programme is expected to provide financial relief to farmers, improve farm productivity and support efforts to revitalise Ghana's cocoa sector.
