Ghana to Commence the distribution of free fertilizer to cocoa farmers.

26 May 2014 Ghana has announced that it will commence the distribution of free fertilizer to cocoa farmers this year. This action is in a bid to boost crop yields, currently standing at about 800,000 tonnes per year.

Chief Executive of the cocoa industry Stephen Opuni said that the government had ordered about $200 million worth of products such as fertilizers and chemicals.  He explained that cocoa had always been sold to farmers at a subsidized rate, but that for the first time, it would be given free.

Cocobod also announced that it intends to increase the price at which it purchases cocoa from cocoa farmers, when the crop year for 2014/2015 begins in October 2014.