Gov’t Scraps 50% Fertilizer Cost for Cocoa Farmers, Introduces Free Tertiary Scholarships for Their Children

In a bold move aimed at boosting Ghana’s cocoa sector and improving the welfare of cocoa farming families, the Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD, Dr. Randy Abbey, has announced that the government has completely scrapped the 50% cost cocoa farmers previously paid for fertilizers.

Speaking during a stakeholder engagement session, Dr. Abbey emphasized that fertilizers will now be supplied to cocoa farmers free of charge, a decision he described as a direct intervention to support the productivity and livelihoods of Ghanaian cocoa farmers.

“In the past, farmers had to pay 50% of the cost for fertilizers. We’ve now removed that burden. Fertilizers are now fully supplied at no cost to the farmer,” Dr. Abbey stated.

In addition to the fertilizer relief, Dr. Abbey also revealed a new tertiary scholarship scheme for the children of cocoa farmers. According to him, the initiative aims to motivate farmers and improve access to higher education for their families.

“We’ll also be giving children of cocoa farmers free scholarships in tertiary institutions as a form of motivation to the Ghanaian cocoa farmer,” he added.

These initiatives are part of broader efforts by COCOBOD and the government to revitalize the cocoa industry, enhance productivity, and address the socio-economic challenges facing farmers across the country.

The announcement has been welcomed by many stakeholders in the agricultural sector as a timely intervention that will help reduce the financial strain on farmers while fostering educational advancement among farming communities.

Ghana remains one of the world’s leading cocoa producers, and such reforms are expected to not only improve yield and farmer welfare but also sustain the country’s global competitiveness in the cocoa industry.