Keypoints:
- Farmers expect sharp rise in cocoa yields
- Input shortages and rainfall still pose risks
- 2024/2025 cocoa output fell to 590,000 tons
COCOA farmers across Ghana are projecting a major boost in production for the 2025/2026 season, thanks to favourable growing conditions, improved flowering, and better pod development—offering hope for recovery after years of declining output.
The positive outlook comes despite ongoing challenges, including delayed delivery of pesticides and fungicides, and the lingering effects of erratic weather and illegal mining, which have previously ravaged plantations in key growing regions.
Ghana, the world’s second-largest cocoa producer, has stru
ggled to meet past production targets, but farmers say early signs point to a promising turnaround—if government support is delivered on time.
Farmers see stronger yields despite risks
‘Farmers who have truly focused on their cocoa farms will definitely see a bumper harvest this season,’ said Theophilus Tamakloe, a farmer from Assin North and vice president of a national cocoa farmers’ association.
He told Reuters that he expects to harvest 350 bags, up from 230 bags in the last season. ‘We are witnessing much better flowering and leaf health compared to last year,’ he said. Still, Tamakloe warned that excessive rainfall and delayed fungicide distribution from Cocobod could undermine yields.
Business-minded farming drives optimism
In the Tano district, Salomey Saah is aiming to double her previous harvest to 2,000 bags, after treating her cocoa farm like a business in the past year. ‘I’ve seen tremendous improvement,’ she said. But she added that pests remain a real threat: ‘Without pesticides, insects could wipe out everything within three days.’
Meanwhile, Kwame Alex, Ghana’s 2024 National Best Cocoa Farmer, said he produced over 2,000 bags last season and is now targeting 3,000 bags for 2025/2026. His success story has inspired nearby farmers to invest more heavily in good practices, he said.
National output remains under pressure
Despite the optimism among individual farmers, Ghana’s national output remain
s fragile. In May 2025, data from the Ghana Cocoa Board (Cocobod) projected that the country would miss its 650,000-metric ton target for the 2024/2025 season, with production likely to fall to 590,000 tons—one of the lowest in over a decade.
Ghana and neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire, which together supply more than 60 percent of the world’s cocoa, have both faced major setbacks due to climate extremes, disease outbreaks, and environmental degradation driven by illegal mining.
Cocobod yet to set 2025/2026 target
Cocobod has not released a production target for the upcoming season, which officially opens in August 2025, and did not respond to Reuters requests for comment.
Farmers say the key to achieving a bumper crop will be timely distribution of agrochemicals and consistent technical support from the government and its agencies.
With global cocoa prices rising and supply tightening, a strong harvest in Ghana could provide much-needed economic relief and bolster export earnings.
