Ghana’s cocoa producers are learning about climate-smart agriculture practices and how they can help in mitigating and adapting to climate change.

Cocoa cultivation covers an estimated 1.6 million hectares in Ghana, yet the country’s cocoa production is expected to significantly decline by 2050 as a result of rising temperatures, shorter rain periods and less precipitation, reports Modern Ghana.

A number of organizations are responding to this issue with efforts aimed at ensuring the sustainability of the cocoa industry and protecting livelihoods.

Among these is the not-for-profit organization, Solidaridad, which supports the sustainable development of farmers and production systems in West Africa. They are working with the Cocoa Research Institute on implementing climate-smart production practices such as ensuring a certain number of trees to provide cover that reduces evapotranspiration.

Solidaridad has distributed over 26,000 shade trees to farmers in 52 cocoa growing communities and supported other farmers to establish cocoa nurseries to produce varieties of recommended shade tree seedlings.

SNV Ghana in partnership with the Kuapa Kokoo Farmers Union is implementing the Cocoa Eco Project, aimed at exposing farmers to interventions in climate mitigation and adaptation that will ensure sustainable cocoa production.

Read the full story: Solidaridad emphasizes climate-smart cocoa production