Ahafo Gets New Cocoa Support Centre to Boost Productivity and Forest Protection

Cocoa farmers in Ghana’s Ahafo Region are expected to benefit from expanded agricultural services following the commissioning of a Rural Service Centre by Proforest in Asumura, located in the Asunafo North Municipality.

The centre has been established to help farmers improve their production methods, manage the effects of climate change and adopt practices that protect forests from further degradation.

The facility forms part of the Building Deforestation-free Climate Resilient Cocoa Landscape programme, supported by the Walmart Foundation to promote sustainable cocoa cultivation and responsible management of agricultural landscapes.

Under the initiative, farmers will receive technical education, practical farm-management assistance and guidance on environmentally responsible production. The centre will also provide opportunities for residents to participate in community-level decisions concerning land use and environmental protection.

The commissioning extends Proforest’s efforts to bring agricultural support closer to rural communities. The organisation opened its first Rural Service Centre at Dadiesoaba in the Asutifi South District in 2024, offering training and farm-management services to cocoa farmers and surrounding communities.

Asunafo North Municipal Chief Executive Joseph Akparibo said the initiative supports the government’s agricultural transformation objectives, including the Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda and the Feed Ghana Programme.

He explained that these policies are intended to increase agricultural productivity, improve food availability, generate employment, provide industries with raw materials and strengthen connections between farmers and markets.

Proforest’s Executive Director for Global and Africa, Abraham Baffoe, highlighted the importance of integrating environmental conservation into agricultural development.

He urged stakeholders to maintain their cooperation in building cocoa-growing communities that can withstand climate-related pressures while preserving forest resources for future generations.

Simon Hall, Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Walmart Foundation, also underscored the contribution of partnerships to sustainable cocoa production. He expressed optimism that the centre would help farmers improve their operations and enable communities to strengthen local governance of their natural resources.

The facility comes at a time when sustainable production and forest conservation remain important priorities for Ghana’s cocoa industry.

By providing farmers with accessible technical services and practical knowledge, the centre is expected to encourage improved farming methods and support rural livelihoods.

However, achieving lasting results will require consistent participation from farmers, effective delivery of the planned services and continued cooperation among the organisations and communities involved.

Proforest and its partners expect the initiative to contribute to a more productive, climate-resilient cocoa sector while limiting deforestation and promoting sustainable land use in the Ahafo Region.

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