Ghana Tree Crop Diversification Project

Adaptation Need

The tree crop sector sustains rural livelihoods and foreign exchange earnings. However, erratic rainfall, rising temperatures, and humidity-driven pests are shrinking production zones and reducing yields. Cocoa yield is sensitive to moisture levels and temperature fluctuations, which are critical for maintaining growth and optimal productivity. Drought stress and irregular rainfall lead to reduced yields, lower bean quality, and increased vulnerability to pests and diseases. For instance, in the 2023/2024 season, climate pressures contributed significantly to a 37.5% yield reduction, resulting in the lowest cocoa production output in two decades. This led to a delayed delivery of 370,000 metric tons and a default on an $800 million syndicated loan secured to finance cocoa purchases by the country. Implementing climate-smart practices and adaptive management strategies is crucial for sustaining production and protecting the livelihoods of farmers in cocoa and other vital tree crop value chains.

GCA’s Added Value

GCA, in collaboration with the CGIAR Center, Alliance Bioversity-CIAT, is strengthening the project’s climate resilience by providing risk and vulnerability analytics that support decision-making; mapping the agro-advisory landscape and co-designing a climate-smart digital extension framework, prioritizing and valuing adaptation options for e-extension roll-out, and building local capacity to deliver these climate-resilient services across all project areas.