Tree crop project set to support digital traceability for cocoa industry

By Stanley Senya

Accra, Jan. 24, GNA – The Ghana Tree Crop Diversification Project (TCDP) is set to bring digital innovation to the country’s cocoa industry, aiming to enhance traceability and efficiency across the cocoa value chain.

The project, expected to be carried out in the Western North and Eastern Regions over the next five years, would operationalize the Ghana Cocoa Board’s Management System (CMS) in three major cocoa-producing districts: Essam, Adabokrom, and Asamankese.

A statement copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, said Mr Wahab Suleman, the Project Coordinator of the COCOBOD Project Implementation Unit for the TCDP, highlighted the importance of integrating the cocoa sector to ensure its long-term sustainability and competitiveness.

He said: “the cocoa sector needs to be well-integrated to respond effectively to the demands of the global market. Digital traceability is a vital step toward ensuring transparency, efficiency, and sustainable growth in the industry.”

He disclosed that COCOBOD had already made substantial investments in the development of the CMS, a digital platform designed to streamline operations, improve data management, and track cocoa produce from the farm gate to the final export.

However, despite these investments, the system’s full potential can only be realized once it is operationalized in districts where cocoa is produced.

According to him, the TCDP will focus on helping COCOBOD transition from analogue to digital operations by bringing the CMS to the selected project districts: Essam, Adabokrom, and Asamankese.

This shift, he said, would allow for improved data collection and monitoring, enhancing traceability throughout the entire cocoa supply chain.

Additionally, he said the system would track every step, from cocoa bean production to export, providing transparency and ensuring that all actors in the value chain are adhering to the highest standards of quality and sustainability.

He explained that operationalizing the CMS in these districts would ensure that farmers and stakeholders had access to real-time information, which is crucial for making informed decisions.

Mr Suleman said the project would enhance the distribution of inputs and delivery of on-farm services for effective management of cocoa production, providing much-needed support for the sector as it adapted to global trends in sustainability and traceability.

Mr. Suleman disclosed further that farmers stood to benefit from the CMS, as they would have better access to market information, price trends, and best agricultural practices, adding that, the digital shift would not only increase productivity but also enhance financial inclusion, allowing timely and accurate payments through digital platforms.

Dr. Ashwini Sebastian, the Senior Agriculture Economist and TCDP Task Team Leader at the World Bank, expressed confidence in the project’s potential to transform the cocoa sector.

“The operationalization of the Cocoa Management System is a critical component of this initiative, and we believe it will pave the way for more sustainable and profitable cocoa production in Ghana,” Dr. Ashwini said.

“This project is not just about digitization, it’s about creating a more integrated and competitive cocoa industry that can meet the demands of both local and global markets”, he added.

The statement said by focusing on value chain digitization, the TCDP aims to address key challenges in the cocoa sector, including inefficiencies, lack of transparency, and unsustainable practices.

It said with improved traceability, COCOBOD would be able to verify the origin and sustainability of cocoa beans, ensuring that they meet international standards.

“The TCDP has received strong support from its financing partner, the World Bank, which is keen on seeing the project succeed”, it added.

The statement said operationalisation of the CMS in the selected districts would mark a key step in Ghana’s journey to modernizlse its cocoa sector.

“By leveraging digital tools for traceability and transparency, the TCDP is positioning Ghana as a leader in sustainable cocoa production, with the ability to meet international market demands while improving the livelihoods of local farmers”, it said.

GNA