GHANA LAUNCHES TREE CROP DIVERSIFICATION PROJECT TO DRIVE ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESILIENCE

Date: 15th November 2024

The Government of Ghana, in collaboration with the World Bank, has launched the Ghana Tree Crop Diversification Project (GTCDP) to enhance economic growth, mitigate climate challenges, and promote environmental resilience across four key tree crop value chains.

The project, managed by the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA), is designed to improve investments in farmer productivity, strengthen value chains, enhance market access and support sustainable growth in cocoa, cashew, coconut, and rubber production.

At the launch on November 14, 2024, themed “Sowing the Seeds of the Future: Unlocking Ghana’s Tree Crop Potential for Inclusive and Sustainable Transformation,” the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Bryan Acheampong, emphasised the pivotal role of the tree crop sector in Ghana's economic diversification and development agenda. 

“Ghana’s tree crop sector is vital to agriculture and the economy, generating income for over two million farming households, including commercial producers. This sector offers significant opportunities for economic diversification, job creation, poverty reduction, food security, foreign exchange earnings, and a substantial contribution to our nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” Dr. Acheampong stated.

He highlighted the project’s role in advancing climate-smart agriculture to combat deforestation and climate change. The government, he noted, is committed to modernising the sector through institutional strengthening, capacity building, public-private partnerships, and policy reforms.

“The success of the Ghana Tree Crop Diversification Project will be measured not only by economic outcomes but by the positive impact on the lives of our farmers and communities. Together, we can build a resilient tree crop sector that supports farmers, protects the environment, and fosters sustainable growth for future generations”, Dr Acheampong remarked.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Hon Joseph Boahen Aidoo, said the GTCDP complements COCOBOD’s Cocoa Sector Development Strategy II, which aims to boost productivity, enhance traceability, and address challenges such as the Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease (CSSVD). 

"We are glad to note that the Tree Crops Diversification Project is designed to contribute to the efforts above of COCOBOD through investments for strengthening COCOBOD’s institutional capacity and digital transformation; ... assisting small scale and artisanal manufacturers to increase value addition and create jobs in cocoa processing as well as protecting children and other vulnerable groups within the selected cocoa landscapes."

The World Bank Country Director, Mr. Robert Taliercio O’Brien, commended Ghana’s agricultural transformation agenda. He described the GTCDP as a landmark project. Through this project, the World Bank, with a US$200 million credit facility from the International Development Association (IDA), will support key value chains …by providing critical resources, knowledge, and expertise, Mr. O’Brien remarked.

The six-year project aims to benefit over 52,000 farmers and create thousands of jobs, prioritising the inclusion of women and youth.