TREE CROP GRANTS TO BOOST FARMER INCOMES AND JOBS ACROSS GHANA’S GROWING REGIONS

Date: 10th November 2025

Farmers and agribusinesses in Ghana’s major tree crop–producing regions are set to benefit from a new grant initiative under the Ghana Tree Crop Diversification Project (TCDP), a US$200 million World Bank–supported programme jointly implemented by the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) and Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), with oversight from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA).

The initiative seeks to transform rural livelihoods and promote economic diversification in Western North, Bono, Bono East, Eastern, and Savannah Regions by supporting cocoa, cashew, coconut, and rubber farmers with improved access to finance, technology, and markets.

The Project Grants Facility (PGF), a US$51.35 million fund, will provide matching and institutional support grants to farmer-based organisations, cooperatives, agribusinesses, and research institutions. The goal is to make Ghana’s tree crop sector more productive, competitive, and sustainable while creating inclusive job opportunities, particularly for women and youth.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Grant Review and Advisory Committee (GRAC) in Accra, Technical Advisor to the Minister for Food and Agriculture and Chairman of the TCDP Steering Committee, Hon. Kwasi Etu-Bonde, said the grants would “channel resources directly to the people driving Ghana’s agricultural economy.”

“These grants will empower our farmers to adopt better technologies, process more locally, and earn fairer prices,” Hon. Etu-Bonde noted. “We are investing not only in crops but in the people and communities that sustain Ghana’s growth.”

The TCDP aims to reach 50,000 smallholder farmers, with at least 40% women, across the target regions. Over 20,000 jobs are expected to be created through investments in value chain enterprises, input supply, processing, logistics, and research.

Chief Executive Officer of TCDA, Dr Andrews Osei Okrah, reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to ensuring that the Facility becomes a model of transparency and results-based financing.

“Every cedi invested through the Facility must yield tangible improvements, from higher farmer incomes to stronger institutions,” he said. “We are laying the foundation for a more sustainable, inclusive, and competitive tree crop economy.”

By supporting both smallholders and agribusinesses, the TCDP aims to make Ghana’s tree crop sector a strong pillar of rural development, contributing to export diversification, sustainability, and sustainable economic growth.