Dr. Albert A. Arhin, Researcher at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has called for cocoa policies in Ghana to focus not only on production and yields but
The report indicates that dr. Albert A. Arhin, Researcher at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has called for cocoa policies in Ghana to focus not only on production and yields but also on the health and wellbeing of cocoa farmers.
It further notes that he stated a resilient cocoa sector could not be achieved without resilient farmers.
Speaking at a policy and research breakfast meeting on producer-focused climate policy in Accra, Dr. Arhin stated findings from a recent study conducted in cocoa-growing communities in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire showed that climate change was affecting both cocoa production and the farmers themselves.
He explained that the study engaged more than 1,000 cocoa farmers across the two countries, with about 500 Ghanaian farmers participating in quantitative surveys while others took part in qualitative interviews.
The researcher stated farmers expressed concerns that although much attention had been placed on increasing productivity and addressing storage decline, insufficient attention was being paid to the impact of climate change on their health, labour capacity and overall wellbeing.
“The impact of climate change is not only on the cocoa tree but also on the producer himself. If the producer is not resilient, we cannot have a resilient cocoa sector,” he stated.
Dr. Arhin noted that cocoa farmers believed their concerns were often ignored despite engagements through cooperatives, civil society organisations and other structures.
He added that farmers continued to raise concerns over poor roads, low producer prices and unfulfilled promises affecting their livelihoods.
The researcher stated cocoa production in Ghana had declined from an average of about 800,000 tonnes to nearly 600,000 tonnes, stressing that focusing solely on productivity interventions would not be enough to reverse the trend.
He stated the study indicated that labour shortages, farmer health challenges and reduced time spent on farms due to climate-related conditions were all contributing to declining cocoa yields.
Dr. Arhin stated government policies should therefore incorporate measures aimed at protecting farmers’ health, improving their welfare and strengthening their resilience to climate shocks.
He added that adopting the recommendations from the research could lead to significant transformation within Ghana’s cocoa sector.
Mr. Jose Lopez Ganem, the Executive Director, Institute for Cacao and Chocolate Research, called for stronger investment in healthcare and infrastructure for cocoa farmers.
Mr. Ganem stated countries such as Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire must begin to see farmer health as a critical component of agricultural productivity, especially as climate change continues to intensify pressures on farming communities.
