Afarinick Company Limited (ACL) has distributed over 400,000 improved cocoa seedlings free of charge to farmers across the Volta Region, a major intervention aimed at accelerating cocoa cultivation, improving farmer livelihoods, and positioning the region as Ghana’s next cocoa production frontier.
The large-scale seedling distribution exercise was held at Afarinick’s flagship cocoa project in Kpando, where the company has established a 2,000-acre Sustainable Commercial Cocoa Plantation, recognised as Ghana’s largest.
The event brought together hundreds of cocoa farmers, traditional authorities, political leaders, agricultural stakeholders, and representatives from the cocoa industry.
The free distribution of seedlings forms part of Afarinick’s broader commitment to supporting farmers with access to high-quality planting materials while driving sustainable cocoa expansion across suitable growing areas in the Volta Region and beyond.
The event was attended by several Members of Parliament, including the Member of Parliament for Kpando Constituency, Hon. Sebastian Fred Deh; the Member of Parliament for Hohoe Constituency, Hon. Thomas Worlanyo Tsekpo; the Member of Parliament for Guan Constituency, Hon. Fred Agbenyo; and the Member of Parliament for Biakoye Constituency, Hon. Jean-Marie Formadi.
The MPs commended Afarinick for its significant investment in Ghana’s cocoa sector through the establishment of the 2,000-acre plantation, the development of a large-scale cocoa nursery and the free distribution of improved seedlings to farmers. They noted that access to quality planting materials remains one of the most important requirements for increasing cocoa production, improving yields and enhancing farmer incomes.
Speaking at the event, Hon. Sebastian Fred Deh described the intervention as transformative, noting that the distribution of seedlings and the establishment of large-scale cocoa infrastructure would empower farmers and contribute significantly to the Volta Region’s economic development.
Hon. Thomas Worlanyo Tsekpo and Hon. Jean-Marie Formadi also reaffirmed their commitment to supporting cocoa expansion efforts within their constituencies, stressing the potential of cocoa farming to create jobs, generate income and stimulate rural development.
The 400,000 seedlings distributed were produced from improved cocoa varieties designed to deliver higher yields, better disease tolerance and greater resilience to changing climatic conditions. Farmers from various districts across the Volta Region received the seedlings as part of efforts to establish new cocoa farms and rehabilitate existing farms.
According to Afarinick, the distribution programme is expected to contribute significantly to increasing cocoa acreage within the region while supporting the Government of Ghana’s efforts to expand national cocoa production.
Davida Pappoe, Programmes Manager of Afarinick Company Limited, explained that the free distribution of improved cocoa seedlings forms part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitment to supporting farming communities and contributing to the sustainable growth of Ghana’s cocoa sector. She noted that through investments in seedling production and the provision of quality planting materials to farmers, Afarinick aims to support cocoa expansion efforts, enhance farm productivity and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for rural households, particularly in emerging cocoa-growing areas such as the Volta Region.
She noted that the seedlings were raised in Afarinick’s state-of-the-art cocoa nursery in Kpando, which has the capacity to produce more than two million improved cocoa seedlings annually. The nursery, one of the largest of its kind in Ghana, was established to meet the growing demand for high-quality cocoa planting materials and to support the sustainable expansion of cocoa cultivation nationwide.
Afarinick also acknowledged the invaluable support of the Seed Production Division (SPD) of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), which supplied the improved cocoa pods used in producing the seedlings distributed to farmers.
The seedling distribution programme was held alongside a tour of Afarinick’s 2,000-acre Sustainable Commercial Cocoa Plantation, the largest of its kind in Ghana. The plantation showcases modern irrigation systems, climate-smart agricultural practices, sustainable land management techniques and innovative cocoa production methods that can be replicated across the country.
The plantation represents a significant private-sector investment in Ghana’s agricultural sector and demonstrates the potential for large-scale, environmentally responsible cocoa production. Combined with the company’s 2-million-capacity nursery, the project is expected to play a critical role in supporting cocoa expansion and improving access to quality planting materials for farmers nationwide.
For many farmers, the free seedlings represented a valuable opportunity to establish or expand cocoa farms without the burden of acquiring planting materials. Stakeholders at the event described the initiative as a strategic investment in livelihoods, agricultural productivity and the future of cocoa farming in the Volta Region.
As Ghana continues to strengthen its position as one of the world’s leading cocoa-producing countries, Afarinick’s distribution of 400,000 improved cocoa seedlings, together with the establishment of Ghana’s largest sustainable commercial cocoa plantation and a nursery capable of producing over two million seedlings annually, demonstrates the critical role of private-sector investment in supporting farmers, expanding production and creating new opportunities within the cocoa sector.
With hundreds of thousands of seedlings now in farmers’ hands and a strong foundation of sustainable cocoa infrastructure in place, the Volta Region is taking another important step toward becoming a major contributor to Ghana’s cocoa industry and a new frontier for sustainable cocoa cultivation.
