Ghana’s cocoa industry stands at a critical juncture as production keeps reducing. According to the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), production in the 2023/2024 season dropped to just 530,873 metric tons—the country’s lowest output in 15 years. This marked a sharp drop from the over one million metric tons recorded during the 2020/2021 crop year.Events in Ghana
Hand-pollinated cocoa trees
As the world’s second-largest cocoa producer, Ghana faces mounting challenges: climate change impacts, illegal mining that destroys farmlands, and the spread of Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease (CSSVD), which has left many farms unproductive and farmer incomes unstable.Events in Ghana
Over the years, the government, through COCOBOD has introduced several interventions, including the National Cocoa Rehabilitation Programme in 2020. The initiative aimed to cut down diseased trees, replant with improved, disease-tolerant varieties, and provide compensation and technical support to farmers.
But implementation has been slow. By 2024, only 40,000 hectares of an estimated 156,000 hectares of affected farms had been fully rehabilitated and returned to farmers. Another 27,000 hectares were abandoned mid-way, largely due to funding constraints, COCOBOD reported.
Hand pollination
Despite these setbacks, one intervention offers renewed hope: hand pollination. Cocoa pollination occurs naturally through tiny insects called midges, but natural pollination rates are often low and inconsistent. Hand pollination is manually transferring pollen between cocoa flowers and it has proven to significantly boost yields.
In 2017, COCOBOD, as part of its Productivity Enhancement Programmes, piloted the initiative to significantly increase pod development and raise yields to over 1,000 kg per hectare. Yet, adoption remains limited due to inadequate farmer training, low awareness, and resource constraints.
Still, some farmers have embraced the technology and are already reaping the benefits. Experts believe that scaling up hand pollination, alongside climate-resilient practices and stronger extension services, could play a pivotal role in reversing Ghana’s cocoa production decline and restoring farmer incomes.Events in Ghana
Impact on yields
All other things being equal, on average, a cocoa tree produces about 30 pods per season. However, when hand pollination is combined with good agronomic practices—such as pruning and the correct application of fertilizer—a single tree can produce up to 200 pods.
Mr. Philip Boakye Appiah, a farmer at Akrodie near Goaso in the Ahafo Region, was awarded Best Cocoa Farmer for the Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo Regions in 2019. He is one of the few farmers who have embraced hand pollination.
The COCOBOD used a portion of his 12-acre farm for hand pollination demonstration in 2017. Realizing the success and impact of the demonstration site, later the farmer willingly adopt the practice and scaled up to cover the entire 12-acre farm and other cocoa farm sites which has significantly increased productivity.
“My 12-acre cocoa farm, which previously produced only 50 to 60 bags of cocoa (64kg each), now yields approximately 140 bags—a remarkable improvement made possible by the adoption of hand pollination,. I will urged my colleague farmers to invest beyond government interventions such as investing in hand-pollination to increase yields for improved livelihoods,” he said.
On his part, the 2019 National Best Farmer and 2018 National Cocoa Farmer, Charles Gyamfi, described hand pollination as a “game-changer” and urged COCOBOD to prioritize its nationwide scale-up. “I have 20 permanent workers dedicated to hand pollination across my farms, which cover about 400 acres in the Ahafo Region. Each season, I also engage an average of 30 additional pollinators to support the permanent team,” he noted.
Mr. Gyamfi, also advised farmers not to neglect essential farm maintenance, particularly regular pruning and the application of organic manure in order to maximize the full benefits of hand pollination.
Job opportunities
Beyond boosting yields, hand pollination is creating vital jobs, particularly for women. Many have been trained and employed to carry out this artificial crossbreeding process. During the pilot phase in the 2019/2020 season, COCOBOD recruited around 30,000 pollinators across cocoa-growing regions.
A 37-year-old, Ramatu Mohammed, at Goaso, Ahafo Regional capital is reaping the benefits of a new opportunity as a trained cocoa hand pollinator. In addition to her primary role as a nursery operator, she now earns a steady income through this initiative.
“Hand pollination in cocoa is truly rewarding,” she shared with a smile. “It’s a simple task for anyone willing to put in the effort. The demand for our services keeps growing, and I strongly encourage others—especially young unemployed women in cocoa-growing areas—to learn the skill and earn a decent living.”
Decline in natural pollinators
Climate change is worsening the decline of midges—the tiny insects that naturally pollinate cocoa. These insects thrive in moist environments, but rising tropical temperatures are shrinking their habitats.
The Goaso District Cocoa Officer, Eugen Amoah, warns that hand pollination is no longer optional. “COCOBOD has invested heavily in training pollinators. Farmers should be willing to hire them if they want higher yields. With climate change, hand pollination is a necessary intervention.”
Clearing misconceptions
One common misconception is that hand pollination causes cocoa pod abortion and reduces yields. Mr. Amoah dismisses this, explaining that pod drop can be caused by extreme heat or when trees bear more pods than they can sustain.
“Farmers must apply the right amount of fertilizer after pollination to sustain the pods. Hand pollination, paired with good agronomic practices, is a proven way to adapt to climate change and protect cocoa yields.”
Conclusion
Hand pollination may not be a silver bullet, but the results speak for themselves. Paired with sound agronomic practices, it can help Ghana’s cocoa farmers combat climate change, revive declining yields, and create new jobs.
In a season marked by record-low output, hand pollination stands out as a beacon of hope—a reminder that with the right tools and commitment, the future of Ghana’s cocoa industry can still be sweet.
