Proforest opens climate-smart cocoa hub in Ahafo as Walmart backs sustainable farming push

Proforest has officially opened a Rural Service Centre in Asumura, Ahafo Region, marking a significant step in Ghana's efforts to transform cocoa farming into a climate-resilient and sustainable sector. The facility, backed by funding from the Walmart Foundation, is designed to provide direct support to smallholder cocoa farmers who form the backbone of Ghana's agricultural economy and global cocoa supply chains.

The new centre will serve as a hub for disseminating climate-smart agricultural practices, helping farmers adapt to shifting weather patterns whilst protecting Ghana's forest resources. With deforestation linked to cocoa expansion remaining a critical environmental and economic concern, the initiative addresses a long-standing challenge: enabling cocoa farmers to increase productivity without compromising forest cover or livelihoods.

What the centre offers farmers

The Rural Service Centre will provide farmers with access to training programmes, technical advisory services, and practical demonstrations of sustainable farming techniques. These include improved soil management, water conservation, shade-grown cocoa systems, and pest management strategies that reduce reliance on chemical inputs. By equipping farmers with knowledge and tools, the centre aims to help them maintain competitive yields whilst building resilience against climate shocks such as erratic rainfall and temperature fluctuations.

The facility will also facilitate farmer-to-farmer learning networks, allowing communities to share successes and challenges. Such peer-to-peer approaches have proven effective in rural Ghana, where trust and practical demonstration often drive adoption of new practices more effectively than top-down messaging.

Why it matters for Ghana

Cocoa remains Ghana's second-largest export earner after gold, with the sector employing millions directly and indirectly. However, the industry faces mounting pressures: climate variability is reducing yields, deforestation threatens future productivity, and international buyers increasingly demand sustainability certifications. The Ahafo Region, one of Ghana's premier cocoa-growing areas, has experienced significant forest loss tied to agricultural expansion.

This initiative aligns with Ghana's commitments under international environmental agreements and growing buyer requirements from major corporations like Walmart. For farmers, sustainable practices can unlock premium market access and climate finance opportunities. For Ghana, it represents an opportunity to position cocoa production as both environmentally responsible and economically viable—crucial for competing in global markets that are tightening sustainability standards.

The Walmart Foundation's involvement signals private sector confidence in Ghana's cocoa sector and demonstrates how international partnerships can scale solutions. Success in Asumura could serve as a model for expansion to other cocoa-growing regions, potentially benefiting thousands of smallholder farmers across the country.