By Iddi Yire, GNA
Accra, Nov 24, GNA – The Ministry of Food and Agriculture under its Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) is distributing over six million elite seedlings free of charge to 10,000 registered farmers on the Ghana Agricultural Actors’ Platform.
Mr Eric Opoku, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, said by 2026, distribution targets 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.
He said agro-input support packages were being provided to 10,000 farmers to increase productivity and enhance climate adaptation.
Mr Opoku announced this during his presentation at the Presidency Communications Bureau’s Government Accountability Series Press Conference in Accra.
“Tree crops continue to play a pivotal role in Ghana’s economic transformation agenda, serving as a key driver for industrialisation, export diversification, rural income generation, and job creation,” he stated.
“Under the leadership of the TCDA, significant progress has been made in promoting, regulating, and coordinating the development of six strategic cash crops — namely cashew, oil palm, rubber, shea, coconut, and mango.”
Mr Opoku stated that these commodities remained central to the Government’s plan to diversify exports, create employment, and improve livelihoods across all regions of the country.
On major programmes and interventions, the Minister said two flagship programmes were currently driving the implementation of TCDA’s mandate; declaring that the Ghana Tree Crops Diversification Project (TCDP) was a $100 million initiative aimed at enhancing economic, social, and climate resilience in the cashew, coconut, and rubber value chains.
He said 15 processing enterprises in the cashew, rubber, and coconut sectors had been shortlisted to receive matching-grant support to expand processing capacity and generate employment.
Mr Opoku said two research institutions were receiving logistical support, including pick-up vehicles, to strengthen field research and innovation in tree crops.
He noted that the TCDA had also developed and operationalised a Policy Framework for a Social Development Unit and Child Labour Desk, ensuring gender inclusion, social safeguards, and the elimination of child labour within the tree crop sector.
Furthermore, a Grievance Redress Mechanism has been launched, with toll-free lines (0800 222 131 / 0800 242 444) and a web-based reporting system (https://grm.tcdagh.com/grievance_form) to promote transparency and accountability in project implementation.
GNA.
Edited by George-Ramsey Benamba November 25, 2025