Mr Eric Opoku, Minister for Food and Agriculture, has emphasised the government’s commitment in investing into tree crops sector through the implementation of the Ghana Tree Crops Diversification Project (TCDP).
The TCDP, a World Bank facility, aimed at enhancing economic, social, and climate resilience in cashew, coconut, and rubber value chains.
He said under the project, over six million elite seedlings would be distributed free of charge in 2026 alone to 10,000 registered farmers in the project areas nationwide.
They include three million cashew seedlings for 8,500 farmers, two million coconut seedlings for 1,200 farmers, and one million rubber seedlings for 300 farmers across selected districts and regions.
Mr Opoku disclosed this at the passing-out ceremony of the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) Compliance and Enforcement Officers, in Kumasi.
According to the Minister, agro-input support packages were also being provided to 10,000 farmers to increase productivity and strengthen climate adaptation.
In addition, 15 processing enterprises in the cashew and coconut sectors would receive matching-grant support to expand their processing capacity and create employment.
Linking it to the passing out ceremony, he noted that “these underscore the critical importance of the Compliance and Enforcement Unit of TCDA in ensuring the effective execution of these action plans to benefit the nation”.
The government of Ghana through another bilateral partnership with the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), implemented by NIRAS and Proforest, is enhancing trade competitiveness in the cashew and oil palm value chains.
He commended the TCDA for making tremendous progress within this short period, adding that, the passing-out of eighty-five (85) Compliance and Enforcement Officers demonstrated the Authority’s focus and seriousness about its regulation mandate, investor confidence, and the growth of local businesses across the tree crops sector.
By: Florence Afriyie Mensah, GNA