According to data from various sources, over 315,000 hectares of cocoa farms in Ghana have been affected by the Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease (CSSVD), out of a total of 1.9 million hectares. In 2019, the African Development Bank (AfDB) provided a credit facility to revitalize the cocoa sector in Ghana, and the cocoa rehabilitation programme began the following year. The aim of the programme is to rejuvenate diseased and moribund farms using sustainable production techniques, such as cocoa agroforestry, in order to improve farm productivity and increase farmer incomes.
While progress has been made in the rehabilitation effort, there have been challenges, particularly with regards to the availability of labor. The shortage of labor is a major difficulty facing cocoa production in Ghana, with many available workers migrating to urban areas in search of better opportunities. In response to this challenge, the Afarinick Company Limited (ACL) and Kumad Global Impact Limited (KGIL) consortium, with their expertise in farm services and knowledge of the cocoa value chain, have been contracted to help accelerate the programme’s delivery.
To address the labor shortage, ACL-KGIL launched a nationwide recruitment drive to attract unemployed youth to join their existing labor force. The companies estimate that they will need more than 50,000 personnel to execute their farm service contract. The recruitment exercise has already attracted over 16,000 applications from across the country. The first batch of 4,000 workers, known as Rehabilitation Technicians, have been engaged by ACL-KGIL and are undergoing on-the-job orientation. These workers will eventually sign formal contracts with ACL-KGIL to operate as sub-contractors under the cocoa rehabilitation programme.
ACL-KGIL is committed to reversing rural-urban migration and attracting more urban dwellers into rural agricultural jobs. They aim to create sustainable jobs and livelihoods for young people by nurturing and building the capacities of sub-contractor groups to become thriving, youth-owned farm management businesses in the cocoa value chain.
The companies provide competitive pay and service conditions for their workers. Rehabilitation Technicians can earn over GHS60,000 ($520) per month, with opportunities for additional income through extra activities at agreed rates. The personnel are provided with transportation, rural accommodation, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to ensure their safety. Despite closing the mass recruitment programme, ACL-KGIL continues to receive proposals from interested youth who wish to work with the farm service groups.
To make cocoa production more attractive to the younger generation, ACL-KGIL has invested in technology and modern agricultural machinery. They have equipped all the teams with motorised slashers, chainsaws, and earth augers to mechanize important tasks and improve efficiency. Their goal is to make mechanization a permanent feature of cocoa farming in Ghana, in line with the Global Goal of achieving sustainable consumption and production.
As a result of their investment in mechanized farming and attractive job opportunities, thousands of Ghanaian youth have already found cocoa rehabilitation jobs appealing. In less than a year, Afarinick-Kumad has attracted over 30,000 young workers from across Ghana. While a significant number of workers are from urban areas, the majority still come from cocoa farming communities. Many of these community youth have left illegal mining activities and taken up well-paid farm service jobs in the cocoa rehabilitation operational areas, contributing to a positive trend of urban-rural labor drift.
ACL-KGIL is also committed to women empowerment and gender equality. At their plantain nurseries, 65% of personnel are women, who receive equal pay for equal work. In addition to providing decent employment and lifting workers out of poverty, the nurseries offer opportunities for technology transfer in the scientific production of plantain seedlings.
The success of Afarinick Company Limited and Kumad Global Impact Limited in the cocoa rehabilitation programme highlights their capacity to partner with policymakers and development partners to improve agricultural productivity in Ghana. By addressing challenges such as labor shortages and implementing sustainable farming practices, they are contributing to the country’s food security and sustainable development goals.
