Proforest opens Rural Service Centre in Asumura for Ahafo cocoa farmers

Proforest has officially inaugurated a new Rural Service Centre (RSC) in Asumura, located in the Asunafo North Municipality of the Ahafo Region. This facility, funded by the Walmart Foundation, is designed to serve as a hub for cocoa farmers by providing them with essential technical training and professional farm management services. The initiative aims to enhance the productivity of local farmers while simultaneously promoting climate resilience and the protection of surrounding forest ecosystems.

The new centre in Asumura builds upon Proforest’s existing footprint in the region, complementing a similar facility established in Dadiesoaba in 2024. During the launch ceremony, Proforest’s Executive Director, Abraham Baffoe, emphasized that the project is rooted in the synergy between sustainable agricultural production and community development. He noted that by empowering farmers with modern techniques and better management tools, the project seeks to ensure that cocoa farming remains a viable livelihood without encroaching on protected forest lands.

Municipal Chief Executive Joseph Akparibo commended the initiative, stating that it aligns with the government’s Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda. He highlighted the importance of such private-sector interventions in modernizing Ghana’s cocoa sector and improving the economic outlook for rural communities. Simon Hall of the Walmart Foundation also expressed the foundation's pride in supporting the project, reiterating a commitment to fostering sustainable cocoa production practices that benefit both the environment and the local economy.

By centralizing support services, the RSC is expected to reduce the barriers cocoa farmers face in accessing high-quality inputs and expert advice. As climate change continues to pose risks to traditional farming cycles, the centre’s focus on resilience will be critical for the long-term stability of the cocoa industry in the Ahafo Region. This model of rural service provision is increasingly seen as a blueprint for scaling sustainable agriculture across Ghana’s cocoa-growing belts, ensuring that environmental conservation and economic growth can coexist.