By Florence Afriyie Mensah, GNA
Mampong (Ash), Aug 14, GNA – The Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) has officially launched and handed over agricultural inputs to tree crop farmers with the aim to improve productivity, farmer incomes, sustainability and value addition within Ghana’s tree crops sector.
Tree crop farmers nationwide will receive Wellington boots, motorbikes, tricycles, raincoats, pesticides, weedicides, cutlasses, reflector vests, head lamps, spraying machines and hand gloves.
Again, farmers will be given quality seedlings of either cashew, coconut, oil palm, rubber, mango or shea for the planting season.
Dr Andy Osei Okrah, the Chief Executive Officer, TCDA, during the official launch and handing over of the farming inputs at Mampong in the Asante Mampong Municipality, recounted the enormous contribution of these six strategic tree crops to Ghana’s economy.
According to him, these crops contribute significantly to rural livelihoods, employment, household incomes (approximately 1.6 million households), agro-industrial development and Ghana’s export earnings.
He indicated that, the nationwide distribution of inputs was aimed at addressing some of the key constraints facing farmers, including limited access to essential production inputs, low productivity, climate-related challenges and inadequate adoption of improved agricultural practices.
Ghana’s tree crops sector has enormous potential, he acknowledged, “but we must address challenges such as ageing farms, pests and diseases, climate variability, limited access to quality planting materials and inputs, inadequate application of good agricultural practices, post-harvest losses, limited value addition and market constraints.
“Our response must therefore, go beyond increasing production. We must develop competitive value chains that move from production at the farm level to processing, manufacturing, branding and access to higher-value markets.
This is why the TCDA is pursuing an integrated approach that combines regulation with farmer support, productivity enhancement, research and innovation, market development, traceability, value addition and investment promotion.”
Dr Okrah mentioned that, the Authority’s immediate priority was to improve productivity at the farm level.
Farmers with access to quality inputs, improved planting materials, appropriate technology, extension services and reliable markets are better positioned to increase their productivity and incomes.
He urged beneficiary farmers to use the inputs responsibly and follow recommended agronomic practices while embracing climate-smart and sustainable production systems.
Daasebre Osei Bonsu III, the Mamponghene, commended the TCDA for choosing the town to launch such a laudable initiative and expressed confidence that the area had the capacity to drive meaningful growth within Ghana’s tree crops sector.
He said “our extensive agricultural lands are well-suited to cultivate at least five of the six strategic tree crops regulated by the TCDA. We must move beyond viewing our lands merely as sources of raw commodities.
Instead, we must leverage them as the foundation for commercial plantations, agro-processing, industrialisation, and wealth creation.”
Daasebre Osei Bonsu pledged traditional authorities’ readiness to partner with the government and the TCDA in facilitating access to suitable land for demonstration farms, commercial plantations, and modern processing facilities.
He said demonstration farms would serve as practical learning hubs for farmers, extension officers, youth, and investors in modern agronomy, climate-smart technologies, and pest management.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/ Christabel Addo
Reporter: Florence Afriyie Mensah
Email: [email protected]