Environmentally Friendly Practices To Boost Cocoa Production In Ghana

Ever wondered what makes up the delicious and yummy chocolate in the cup? Well, chocolate consists of two major components mainly; cocoa solids and cocoa butter.

While the former gives flavour, the latter is known to give a rich texture to the chocolate.

Cocoa as an ingredient is derived from cocoa beans, which are the seeds of a cocoa fruit better known as cocoa pods. These cocoa fruits or pods are grown in cocoa trees.

Now, the cocoa plantation or production is effective in the tropical regions located around the Equator. The hot and humid climatic conditions suit the growth of cocoa trees.

The rainfall of 1500 – 2000 mm is the pre-requisite for good growth. Also, the presence of shade is important for cocoa trees.

Thus, the forest agroecological zone is apt for its growth. West African countries like Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and Cameroon together produce 70% of the world’s cocoa beans.

Cocoa Production in Ghana

Cocoa production in Ghana holds a special place as it has been the main source of income for the nation for more than a century and continues to contribute 30% of export earnings.

It is estimated that around 8 lakh farmers depend on cocoa production in Ghana for livelihood and support other sectors as well.

But over the past 5 decades, it has been a bittersweet relationship with cocoa for the people of Ghana. In the 1960s, the production started to decline and reached its lowest level by the year 1980s.

After the mid-1980s, the market picked up and continues to be a challenge for local people who do cocoa plantations.

Various biological and socioeconomic factors are identified by experts that have caused low productivity.

Let’s look at the biological factors that have negatively affected cocoa production in Ghana over the past few years.

With chocolate consumption increasing, there is a rise in the demand for the cocoa world over. As a result, deforestation took place to accommodate cocoa tree plantations.

It is believed that close to a million hectares of forest were cleared for it. This has led to soil fertility issues.

As mentioned before, cocoa trees grow well under shade as it gives a suitable temperature for growth.

This is how deforestation and clearing a vast amount of land has massively affected the productivity of cocoa trees.

The lack of understanding with regard to the environmental impact of deforestation, sustainable agriculture solutions, and appropriate farming practices has led to uncertainty in cocoa production in Ghana.

See Also: https://organicabiotech.com/importance-of-biological-seed-treatment-in-vegetable-production/

The other major factor is inappropriate farming practices. This includes the use of chemicals, fertilizers, insecticides, and pesticides for boosting cocoa production in Ghana and supplying to the rising demand.

However, it has negatively impacted the environment by eliminating beneficial microorganisms that improve soil fertility.

Also, the extensive use of chemicals has led to the pollution of water resources nearby. As cocoa is a delicate crop, the weather conditions and diseases caused due to pathogens affect its growth.

Therefore, sustainable solutions are the need of the hour for protecting the environment, boosting soil fertility, and increasing cocoa production in Ghana, resulting in quality output.

How can Organica Biotech help boost Cocoa Production in Ghana?

Organica Biotech is one of the leading companies on a mission to provide sustainable farming solutions to the world.

Its product, Magic Gro Plus, is a natural, effective, and eco-friendly soil conditioner that maintains a healthy ecological balance in the soil, boosts immunity against diseases, and increases productivity.

This can help farmers in maximizing cocoa production in Ghana. One of the major highlights is its efficiency, even under severe weather conditions, which can help cocoa trees grow effectively and fight diseases.

With the sole aim of helping the farmers and the farming sector, Organica Biotech’s wide range of natural and eco-friendly products increase crop yield and output quality without disturbing the environment.