The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has launched a nationwide sensitisation campaign to educate cocoa farmers on the reintroduced Free Fertiliser and Agro-Inputs Programme, as part of efforts to improve productivity and promote the long-term sustainability of Ghana’s cocoa sector.
The exercise, which has begun in cocoa-growing communities including Aiyinase and Huni Valley, is also aimed at updating farmers on key reforms and interventions being implemented to strengthen the industry.
Speaking during the engagements, COCOBOD’s Deputy Head of Public Affairs, Benjamin Teye Larweh, assured farmers of the Board’s commitment to addressing their concerns and ensuring they receive timely and accurate information on programmes affecting their livelihoods.
He urged cocoa farmers to rely on official communication from COCOBOD and disregard misinformation that could undermine the successful implementation of the programme.
Benjamin Teye Larweh said the Board remains focused on supporting farmers through policies and interventions that will enhance productivity while safeguarding the future of Ghana’s cocoa industry.
The National Coordinator of the Cocoa Diseases and Pests Control Programme (CODAPEC), Abu Seidu, used the engagements to explain the eligibility requirements, distribution arrangements and implementation guidelines for the reintroduced programme.
According to him, only registered cocoa farmers with productive farms will qualify to receive free fertiliser and other agro-inputs under the initiative.
He said the revised implementation model has been designed to improve transparency, accountability and operational efficiency while ensuring that the inputs reach the intended beneficiaries.
COCOBOD said the farmer engagements form part of its broader strategy to equip cocoa farmers with accurate information, increase cocoa production and build a more resilient and sustainable cocoa industry.
