COCOBOD Releases Funds for Cocoa Farmers as Ghana Scales Commercial Poultry and Mushroom Agribusiness

The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has initiated a substantial release of funds to Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) to settle outstanding payments owed to cocoa farmers, signaling a major step in stabilizing the nation's primary agricultural export sector. This financial injection is part of a broader strategy to restore confidence among farmers who have faced significant payment delays due to a downturn in international cocoa prices. Alongside these payments, COCOBOD is rolling out a nationwide sensitization campaign to introduce the reintroduced Free Fertilizer and Agro-Inputs Distribution Programme. Deputy Head of Public Affairs, Benjamin Teye Larweh, has emphasized that these reforms are designed to ensure farmers can reinvest in their lands ahead of the new crop season, bolstered by a more transparent and efficient support system. To safeguard these resources, COCOBOD is implementing rigorous new accountability measures to combat fertilizer diversion and smuggling. The previous cooperative-based distribution system is being replaced by 247 decentralized community centers overseen by local Community Task Forces. These measures include the communal application of fertilizers, the mandatory retrieval of empty input sacks, and the public posting of beneficiary lists. These strategies aim to ensure that registered cocoa farmers are the sole beneficiaries of state-funded inputs, thereby maximizing productivity and protecting the industry from illegal activities. Parallel to the cocoa sector reforms, the government is advancing its Nkoko Nkitinkiti poultry initiative into a critical commercialization phase. Minister for Food and Agriculture Eric Opoku recently announced that the successful completion of the household-focused first phase has paved the way for larger-scale production. The second phase aims to transform the poultry industry into a commercial powerhouse, reducing Ghana's heavy reliance on imported poultry products while creating sustainable employment. Although the Minister noted that some initial beneficiaries consumed their birds instead of scaling production, the move toward commercialization is expected to significantly improve national nutrition and stimulate local economies under the broader Planting for Food and Jobs agenda. In the Oti Region, another promising agribusiness is taking root as mushroom cultivation gains momentum in the Kadjebi and Jasikan districts. Experts highlight that the region's high humidity, significant rainfall, and the abundance of agricultural waste provide an ideal environment for commercial mushroom farming. While currently underdeveloped, the sector is seeing increased interest through training programs facilitated by organizations such as Catholic Relief Services and SEND Ghana. These initiatives target women and youth, offering a path to economic empowerment and improved food security. Despite challenges like contamination risks and limited access to technical support or funding, the emergence of mushroom farming represents a vital diversification of Ghana's agricultural portfolio, offering a sustainable livelihood for rural communities.