The Ghana government has procured 3.5 million bags of fertilizer for free distribution to cocoa farmers across the country for the 2026 season as part of efforts to boost production and improve farmers’ incomes.
In addition to the fertilizers, farmers will receive 1.8 million litres of liquid fertilizer, 2.3 million litres of insecticides and 1.5 million kilogrammes of fungicides at no cost.
The initiative, introduced by the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), replaces the previous fertilizer subsidy arrangement with a fully free distribution system aimed at reducing the financial burden on cocoa farmers.
The programme was officially relaunched 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.”
According to COCOBOD, the intervention is intended to reduce the cost of cocoa production, cushion farmers against recent post-harvest losses and improve productivity to strengthen the country’s food security.
The relaunch also fulfils a promise made by President John Dramani Mahama during the launch of the Farmer Service Centre in the Eastern Region in March 2026.
Speaking at the launch, the Board Chairman of COCOBOD, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, said the initiative demonstrated the government’s commitment to restoring productivity and strengthening Ghana’s cocoa industry.
He said the programme was also designed to improve the livelihoods of cocoa farmers, who deserved government attention and support.
Acknowledging challenges confronting the sector, including ageing cocoa trees, labour shortages and declining soil fertility, Mr Ofosu Ampofo 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.
He added that cocoa farmers remained central to the country’s cocoa industry and needed adequate support to reverse declining production.
“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 said.
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD, Dr Randy Abbey, has 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 and urged beneficiaries to strictly comply with the distribution guidelines.
Dr Abbey appealed to farmers to demonstrate appreciation for the government’s intervention by ensuring that the inputs were used exclusively on their cocoa farms.
“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 emphasised.
The programme is expected to provide financial relief to cocoa farmers, improve farm productivity and contribute to efforts to revitalise Ghana’s cocoa sector.
