Pruning is the removal of unwanted growth or parts of the cocoa plant. It is an important agronomic practice that is needed to optimize productivity and facilitate field operations. It also improves air circulation in the farm and as a result reducing the incidence and spread of fungal diseases.

Weeding: weed management is necessary because weeds compete with the cocoa for nutrients, encourage the incidence of black pod disease, insect pests and rodents that attack the plants. Manual weed control is what is mostly practiced by farmers as well as the use of other approved herbicides.