In response to the spread of swollen shoot disease (CSSVD), over half a million hectares of trees could be cleared in Ghana; another 100,000 hectares would be cleared in Ivory Coast, at least initially. The African Development bank (AfDB) is reportedly still willing to provide some funding assistance, with US$600 million discussed for clearing and replanting.

Ghana’s Cocobod reports that some 40 percent of its cocoa trees are “unproductive”: 17 percent due to disease, and 23 percent due to advanced age. In some growing regions, two-thirds of trees are reported as infected with swollen shoot. Old trees yield closer to a third of the yields of younger trees.

Traditional cocoa tree varieties could take seven years to achieve commercial production, but improved varieties can do so in as little as three years. Replacing older trees is overdue and will lead to improved yields.

Major cocoa origins production history

Source: McKeany-Flavell, ICCO, trade sources
Posted by: Information Services
Our Information Services team assists our clients with understanding commodity and ingredient market dynamics. Using our extensive database of intelligence, we also produce regular commodity and commercial market publications covering supply and demand fundamentals, news alerts on events that shape the markets, and resource guides to give you a complete picture of the industries we monitor.