A long-held belief that cocoa cannot survive in the savannah belt of northern Ghana is being challenged after a remarkable breakthrough at Salnaayili in the Nanumba North Municipality, where cocoa trees are flourishing in open savannah conditions.
During a visit to the community, Dr. Francis Baah (3rd from left), Deputy CEO of COCOBOD, presented a variety of cocoa products to Mohammed Yinchala, the farmer behind this groundbreaking achievement.
For decades, agricultural experts insisted that the Northern Region’s climate was unsuitable for cocoa cultivation. But the thriving cocoa farm at Salnaayili is proving otherwise.
The pioneer behind the discovery, Mohammed Yinchala, began experimenting with cocoa production in 2012 on a small plot. Encouraged by its early success, he expanded the farm to four acres. Unfortunately, wildfire destroyed two and a half acres, leaving him with one and a half acres — which still produce an impressive four bags per harvest.
Yinchala explained that the project began as a simple experiment to test cocoa adaptability in the north. Despite challenges such as limited technical knowledge and lack of modern farming tools, the surviving portion of his farm continues to perform exceptionally well.
He believes that with the right support and training, commercial cocoa cultivation is possible in northern Ghana.
News of the flourishing plantation prompted the Ghana Cocoa Board to send a high-level delegation to the site to assess its commercial viability.
During the visit, COCOBOD donated cocoa products, agrochemicals, and an undisclosed cash amount to motivate the farmer. The team also announced that the Chief Executive of COCOBOD, Dr. Randy Abbey, had pledged to provide Yinchala with a motorbike and construct a house for him on the farm to facilitate expansion.
Dr. Francis Baah described the farmer as a modern-day “Tetteh Quarshie,” noting that this discovery has rewritten agricultural expectations for the north. He said COCOBOD will deploy experts to study the soil, vegetation and climatic suitability for large-scale cocoa production.
COCOBOD also hinted at plans to honour Yinchala during the upcoming National Farmers’ Day, acknowledging his resilience and contribution to opening fresh possibilities for Ghana’s cocoa sector.
Ripple Effect in the Community
Yinchala’s success has already inspired neighbouring farmers. Nearby, Abdul-Rahaman Alhassan has established a five-acre cocoa plantation. Though only two years old, the young cocoa trees are showing strong growth and promising early results.
The favourable microclimate — supported by dense vegetation, canopy shade and moist soils enriched by the nearby Oti River — creates ideal conditions for cocoa production in the area.
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