World Bank Commits $75 Million to Revive Ghana’s Cocoa Farms Amid Disease Crisis

Ghana’s cocoa industry is set for a major boost following a significant financial commitment from the World Bank to restore struggling cocoa farms across the country. The initiative, valued at nearly $75 million, targets the rehabilitation of approximately 25,000 hectares of cocoa plantations that have been severely affected by disease and declining productivity.

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The funding is being channelled through the West Africa Food Systems Resilience Programme (FSRP), a regional effort designed to strengthen agricultural systems and improve food security. In Accra, Agricultural Economist Ashwini Sebastian explained that the programme combines international support with government implementation to address critical challenges facing farmers.

According to her, the initiative has also received backing from the Norwegian government, providing additional grant financing to support key agricultural value chains. While cocoa remains a central focus, the programme extends to other crops, including the development of improved seed systems and the introduction of drought-resistant varieties, particularly for farmers in northern Ghana.

Efforts under the programme are not limited to cocoa alone. Farmers are also being supplied with cashew seedlings as part of a broader strategy to diversify incomes and reduce dependence on a single crop.

However, the cocoa rehabilitation component stands out as a flagship intervention. The project will involve replacing old and diseased cocoa trees with improved, high-yielding, and disease-resistant varieties. It will also promote better farm management practices to ensure long-term productivity.

The urgency of the intervention comes as Ghana’s cocoa sector continues to grapple with major setbacks, including swollen shoot disease, aging farms, and the impact of climate change. Industry observers believe that large-scale rehabilitation is crucial to reversing declining output and maintaining Ghana’s status as one of the world’s top cocoa producers.

Given cocoa’s importance to the national economy, the success of this initiative could have far-reaching effects, from boosting export earnings to improving the livelihoods of rural farming communities. Strengthening resilience in cocoa production, the World Bank notes, is a key step toward building a more sustainable and secure agricultural future for the region.

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