The Ghanaian Cocoa Authority (Cocobod), as part of its National Cocoa Rehabilitation Program, has increased the compensation package for landowners and cocoa farmers who agree to cut and transplant their cocoa beans (CSSV) affected trees.

According to the industry organization, the initial payments were set at 552.96 Ghanaian cedis, but currently payments have been increased to 1,000.00 Ghanaian cedis per hectare. Payments are intended to cover commercial losses incurred by farming communities.

Cocobod Executive Director Joseph Bohen Aidoo announced an increase in payouts at Sefvi-Viavso in the north-western region during a meeting of leaders and residents of the traditional Sefvi region.

Of the 1.9 million hectares of cocoa farms surveyed, 315,800 hectares were affected by the bloated shoot virus. Of these, only in the west-north region there were 214,500 hectares of affected households.

Cocobod's Executive Director advised landowners and cocoa farmers to cut disease-affected trees and replace them with high-yielding, early-ripening, and disease-resistant seedlings to increase crop yield and sustainability.

The government and Cocobod will cover the costs of cutting affected cocoa trees and transplants. In addition, injured farmers and tree seedlings will be delivered free of charge.