From Reuters Africa

Ghana will begin the free distribution of fertilizer to cocoa farmers this year in a renewed effort by the world’s second largest exporter to boost crop yields, industry regulator Cocobod said on Thursday.

Cocobod Chief Executive Stephen Opuni said the government had ordered $200 million worth of farming inputs, mainly in the form of chemicals and fertilizers. He said the government and Cocobod were financing the programme.

Ghana produces an average of 800,000 tonnes of cocoa a year. In the past, it has subsidized inputs including fertilizers.

“It (fertilizer) used to be subsidized and sold to farmers but for the first time they will have it for free,” Opuni told a meeting of leading members of the World Cocoa Foundation, adding that an initial consignment had already been sent to growers.

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