2705 cocoa farmers in the Techiman South District of the Bono East Region have received hybrid seedlings from the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) as part of measures to boost cocoa yield and income.
The more than 2.8 million free climate-resilient hybrid seedlings include 67,794 economic shade trees. COCOBOD also donated 21,000 bags of free ultimate granular fertiliser to improve crop performance.
The Techiman District Extension Coordinator of COCOBOD’s Cocoa Health and Extension Division (CHED), Nana Osei Agyeman Prempeh, told The Ghanaian Times that the interventions came amid production challenges linked to high temperatures and unpredictable rainfall patterns, which were contributing to declining yields in parts of the district.
The beneficiary farmers were drawn from communities including Ayigbe, Nkoranza, Jama and Wenchi, where the distribution had been made to improve seedlings and shade trees, alongside the promotion of climate-smart farming practices.
Mr Prempeh said irrigation programmes are also being considered as an additional measure to help farmers sustain production amid changing weather conditions.
The farmers were advised to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices, including intercropping cocoa with cashew, applying organic manure and pruning cocoa trees.
According to him, cashew trees could provide shade for cocoa farms, while decomposing leaves and other organic matter could help improve soil fertility.
“Farmers must use organic materials such as poultry droppings and cow dung to improve soil conditions. Pruning helps improve airflow within cocoa farms and reduce conditions that favour insect infestations,” he said.
Mr Prempeh expressed confidence about the future of cocoa production in the district through the distribution of improved planting materials and fertiliser, as well as the promotion of climate-smart farming practices to improve yields.
