Prez Mahama launches distribution of 3m coconut seedlings

President John Dramani Mahama has launched the distribution of three million coconut seedlings under the Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness (PIAA).

The flagship programme, financed by Ghana Exim Bank, is being jointly implemented by the Coconut Federation-Ghana (COCOFEG) with support from the Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE).

According to Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor, Director of PIAA, the initiative seeks to position coconut as a “game-changer” in the country’s agricultural landscape. Targeting more than 20,000 farmers across 11 regions, the programme is designed to promote job creation, rural empowerment and export diversification.

COCOFEG President Patrick Ndabiah emphasised his outfit’s commitment to mobilising farmers and building systems to make Ghana a centre of excellence for coconut production in Africa. “We are grateful to President Mahama for this bold and practical intervention,” he said.

The initiative provides farmers with free access to seedlings, technical support, training and market linkages. With an expected survival rate of 90 percent, the trees are projected to establish Ghana as a regional hub for coconut production and processing.

Davies Narh Korboe, President of FAGE, described the project as a means of “restoring dignity to rural farmers, creating jobs for the youth and opening Ghana to export-led development”. He added: “Coconut is the new cocoa. Let’s nurture it right”.

Coconut currently contributes more than US$12million annually in export earnings. With global demand for coconut and its derivatives—such as water, oil, husk, milk, coir and cosmetics—valued in billions of dollars, Ghana is positioning itself to capture a greater share of this market.

Chief Executive of Ghana Exim Bank, Sylvester Mensah, reaffirmed the bank’s support, stating: “We are investing in an ecosystem that guarantees jobs, increases export earnings and drives sustainable industrial growth. Coconut is an economic tree and we are ensuring that every seedling counts toward Ghana’s industrial transformation”.

The initiative is expected to create more than 20,000 direct and indirect jobs in nursery operations, farming, transportation, processing, marketing and export logistics.

Ghana, already Africa’s leading coconut producer, plans to build on the momentum of the current programme by planting an additional 10 million trees in the coming years—an ambition that aims to strengthen its global competitiveness alongside major producers such as the Philippines.

For many rural households, particularly women and young people, the initiative represents a route out of poverty and an opportunity to participate in a structured and profitable value chain.

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