The World Bank has committed roughly $75 million to rehabilitate Ghana’s cocoa sector, targeting the restoration of about 25,000 hectares of farmland as disease and declining yields weigh on one of the country’s most important export industries.

The funding, part of the West Africa Food Systems Resilience Programme, will support the replacement of diseased and aging cocoa trees with higher-yielding, disease-resistant varieties, while promoting improved farm management practices. The initiative aims to boost productivity, raise farmer incomes, and strengthen the long-term viability of cocoa production.

Speaking at a civil society engagement in Accra, World Bank agricultural economist Ashwini Sebastian said the program reflects a broader push to reinforce food systems across the region. Initial financing includes grant support from the Norwegian government, directed toward key agricultural value chains.

Beyond cocoa, the program is also investing in seed system development, including trials of crop varieties suited for dry-season cultivation in northern Ghana. It is additionally distributing cashew seedlings to encourage income diversification among farmers.

The cocoa rehabilitation effort stands as a central component of the initiative. Officials say approximately 5,000 hectares are expected to be restored by midyear, with larger-scale recovery planned thereafter.

Ghana’s cocoa sector has been under increasing strain from swollen shoot disease, aging tree stocks, and shifting climate patterns, contributing to declining output. Analysts view large-scale rehabilitation as critical to sustaining the country’s position in global cocoa markets.

Cocoa remains a cornerstone of Ghana’s economy and a key source of foreign exchange. The World Bank says strengthening resilience in the sector will be essential not only for export stability but also for broader rural economic security.

Source:TheDotNews