Diversifying tree crops export beyond cocoa

Government has acquired a US$200million credit from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank Group (WBG) to finance the Ghana Tree Crop Diversification Project (GTCDP).

Dr. Bryan Acheampong, Minister of Food and Agriculture, said the strategic six-year initiative aims to diversify the agricultural sector beyond cocoa while targetting high-value tree crops like cashew, coconut, rubber, shea, mango and oil palm.

The project aims to support sector-wide activities, reforms and investments in priority agro-ecological areas to maximise effectiveness and enhance the national institutional framework and governance of the tree crops sector for sustainable economic, social and environmental outcomes.

It also seeks to promote inclusivity by leveraging existing national institutions such as the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Tree Crop Development Authority and other stakeholders to scale up existing initiatives in tree crop development.

Currently, GTCDP is managed by the TCDA and COCOBOD under the supervision of MoFA and is estimated to directly benefit cocoa, cashew, coconut and rubber farmers, improving productivity and incomes for about 52,775 farmers and their households.

Actually, 40 percent will be women farmers located across eleven districts in six selected regions – Western North, Eastern, Savannah, Bono, Bono East and Eastern.  An estimated 185 small- and medium-sized enterprises involved in processing cocoa, cashew and cocoanut will also benefit.

The project is expected to create about 20,000 jobs – with an investment of US$4,200 per job; significant focus on employing 60 percent women; and engaging youth while impacting the environment positively by restoring degraded lands and rehabilitating devastated cocoa farms through agroforestry.

Country Director -World Bank, Robert Taliercio O’Brien, said the GTCDP focuses on productivity and market-access improvements; enhancement of private sector competitiveness in value-addition and processing based on commodity market demands; as well as institutional strengthening and value chain governance, among others.

Interventions by the World Bank aim to support Ghana’s efforts to diversify and grow the economy by modernising agriculture, accelerating industrialisation and prioritising climate resilience & mitigation.

Mr. O’Brien further established that the success of GTCDP depends on the engagement and dedication of all stakeholders – reiterating World Bank commitment to ensuring the project delivers long-term, shared benefits for all Ghanaians.

TCDA-Chief Executive Officer, William Agyapong Quaitto, expressed appreciation to the World Bank and noted that all resources from the GTCDP will be allocated to support inclusive and sustainable transformation in the cashew, coconut and rubber value chains.

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