COCOBOD Relaunches Free Cocoa Fertiliser Distribution With Digital Tracking

SEFWI WIAWSO, GHANA — The Ghana Cocoa Board has relaunched its free fertiliser distribution programme in the Western North Region, introducing measures to track agricultural inputs and reduce the risk of diversion.

The event took place on November 6, 2026. COCOBOD Chief Executive Dr Randy Abbey said digital registration and farm mapping would help identify eligible cocoa farmers and ensure that fertiliser is allocated according to verified farm information.

The programme marks a shift from a subsidised input model toward free distribution for eligible growers. COCOBOD says it wants to remove some of the costs farmers face when maintaining cocoa trees and improving soil fertility.

Under the system described at the launch, registered farmers can verify their identities using recognised documents or biometric checks. Distribution records are intended to follow consignments from warehouses to the farming communities where they are used.

Officials said tracking could discourage intermediaries from diverting inputs to unauthorised buyers. They urged farmers to work with extension officers to complete registration and mapping where needed.

The Western North Region has faced serious productivity challenges linked to cocoa swollen shoot disease. COCOBOD also discussed farm rehabilitation and support for growers affected by the disease.

The relaunch does not establish that every cocoa farmer has already received a fertiliser allocation. The next measures of success will be actual distribution coverage, farmer experience and changes in farm productivity.

Original public-sector event report: Western North Regional Coordinating Council, November 7, 2026. https://westernnorthrcc.gov.gh/western-north-region-hosts-the-launch-of-free-cocoa-fertilizer-initiative/