Ghana Stabilizes Cocoa Prices for 2026 Season Amidst Major Digital Shifts and Calls for Sector-Wide Agricultural Support

The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has announced that the producer price for cocoa will remain unchanged for the 2025/26 Light Crop Season, providing a critical safety net for farmers against a backdrop of declining global market prices. Starting June 18, 2026, cocoa farmers will continue to receive GH¢1,241.76 per 30kg load of Grade I and II beans, or GH¢2,587.00 for a 64kg gross bag. This intervention by the government aims to safeguard the livelihoods of cocoa producers and maintain stability in a sector facing rising production costs and international market volatility.

Complementing this push for economic stability is a rapid digital transformation led by Complete Farmer, which recently launched its CF Grower and CF Buyer platforms in Accra. These innovations, praised by the Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness (PIAA), leverage artificial intelligence to assist farmers with soil analysis, nutrient detection, and crop health evaluations. Desmond Koney, CEO of Complete Farmer, emphasized that the platforms are designed to be inclusive, offering offline functionalities for smallholder farmers in areas with limited internet access. The goal is to streamline the agricultural value chain by connecting producers directly with global buyers, thereby reducing stress and improving overall productivity.

However, other sub-sectors are calling for similar levels of strategic attention and investment to ensure balanced growth. The Pig Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) has urged the government to establish a dedicated livestock policy, proposing a “Prako Nkitinkiti” initiative to mirror existing poultry supports. During the inauguration of a new branch in the Asante Akyem Central Municipality, farmers highlighted that the pig industry continues to struggle with financial gaps and inadequate veterinary services. Similarly, Prof. Charles Tortoe of the CSIR-Food Research Institute has warned that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are being held back by the high cost of processing equipment like dehydrators. He called for targeted financial interventions to help businesses acquire the machinery needed to add value to their produce and reduce post-harvest losses.

These developments reflect a multifaceted effort to modernize Ghana’s agricultural landscape. While the stabilization of cocoa prices and the introduction of AI-driven tools offer immediate relief and future growth prospects, stakeholders agree that broader government support is essential. Integrating diverse needs—from livestock policy to food processing technology—will be vital to ensuring that the benefits of agricultural innovation reach every segment of the value chain. As the new cocoa season begins, the focus remains on whether these digital and financial interventions can effectively shield Ghanaian producers from global economic pressures.