KKFU President Urges Cocoa Farmers to Embrace Climate-Smart Practices

The President of Kuapa Kokoo Cooperative Cocoa Farmers and Marketing Union Limited (KKFU), Mr James Agyekum Kwarteng, has called on cocoa farmers to adopt climate-smart agriculture and innovative practices to safeguard production and livelihoods in the face of rising climate threats.

Speaking at the 31st Annual Delegates Conference, Mr Kwarteng described climate change as an immediate danger, evident in erratic rainfall, rising temperatures, and soil degradation. “Adaptation is not weakness; it is wisdom,” he stressed.

He encouraged farmers to implement agroforestry systems, mulching, cover cropping, and conservation tillage, while also using drought-resistant planting materials and mobile-based advisory tools to improve planning and productivity.

Innovation for Profit

Highlighting the importance of value addition, Mr Kwarteng revealed plans to establish a cocoa processing factory, aiming to transform cocoa farming from subsistence to a profitable enterprise. He also urged the adoption of renewable energy solutions and greater youth involvement in technology-driven agriculture.

Labour Rights and Empowerment

KKFU’s Executive Secretary, Mr Solomon Boateng, highlighted the Union’s achievements in improving labour rights, formalising land tenancy, and training community chiefs and Labour Rights Committee members across cocoa-growing districts.

He also underscored the impact of the Empower Project, in partnership with the Belgian Agency for International Cooperation (Enabel), which has helped tenant farmers formalise agreements and strengthen community engagement.

Cocoa Funding Challenges

In an interview, Kuapa Kokoo’s Managing Director (MD), Emmanuel Kwabena Arthur addressed funding challenges for Licensed Buying Companies (LDCs). He noted that while banks have supported cocoa purchases, more local funding is needed to fully utilise production capacity.

“The cocoa business cannot succeed without strong bank support,” he said, advocating a consortium of local banks coordinated by the Bank of Ghana to ensure sufficient funding for cocoa buying, rather than relying solely on syndicated loans or off-taker pre-financing.

Looking Ahead

Kuapa Kokoo continues to lead sustainable and ethical cocoa production in Ghana, combining climate adaptation, innovation, and farmer empowerment to secure a resilient and prosperous cocoa sector for the future.