The Ghana Tree Crop Diversification Project (TCDP) aimed at trans\u00adforming the country\u2019s agricultural industry and promote long-term economic growth has been launched in Accra by the Minister of Food and Agri\u00adculture, Dr Bryan Acheampong.<\/p>\n The $227.5 million five-year (2022 to 2027) development project being funded in partnership with the World Bank will benefit over 52,775 farmers, with a specific focus on empowering women and youth within the agricultural sector.<\/p>\n The project also aims to reg\u00adulate and sustainably develop the production, processing, and trade of target crops including cashew, shea, mango, coconut, rubber, and oil palm.<\/p>\n It will be implemented in six regions, namely Western North, Eastern, Savanah, Bono, Bono East, and Eastern, and expected to di\u00adrectly benefit farmers in improving productivity and incomes of which 40 per cent of these beneficiaries would be women.<\/p>\n It was launched in Accra on the theme: \u2018Sowing the seeds of the future: Unlocking Ghana\u2019s Tree Crop Potential for Inclusive and Sustainable Transformation.\u2019<\/p>\n Moreover, Dr Acheampong emphasised the significance of the tree crop sector to both agricul\u00adture and the national economy, highlighting its contribution to the livelihoods of more than 1.6 million farming households, which includes commercial producers in addition to cocoa.<\/p>\n Similarly, he stated that the sector offered significant opportu\u00adnities for economic diversification, including job creation, poverty reduction, food security, foreign ex\u00adchange earnings, and a substantial contribution to Gross Domestic Product.<\/p>\n However, the Minister noted that this was confronted with challeng\u00ades of Poor coordination, limited technical capacity, and insufficient negotiating power, thus hindering farmers\u2019 effectiveness.<\/p>\n \u201cDespite having ample arable land for cocoa production, Ghana faces significant threats from defor\u00adestation, climate change, and other environmental issues, leading to a marked decline in suitable land. If current trends continue, many co\u00adcoa-farming households will suffer, along with a drop in the country\u2019s foreign exchange revenues,\u201d he revealed.<\/p>\n Touching on TCDP, the Food and Agriculture minister said the project was being managed by the Tree Crop Development Author\u00adity TCDA) and the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) under the supervision of MOFA was meant to support sector-wide activities, reforms, and investments in priori\u00adty agro-ecological areas to maxi\u00admise effectiveness.<\/p>\n The Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD, Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo, indicated that the project would rehabilitate 25, 000 hectares of Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Diseases farms in Asamankese, Adaborkrom, and Essam while providing operational logistics to support rehab and extension activities.<\/p>\n On his part, the County Di\u00adrector of the World Bank, Mr Robert Taliercio O\u2019Brien, noted that through the project, the World Bank with a $200 million credit facility from the International Development Association was supporting key value chains such as cocoa, cashew, coconut, and rubber by providing critical resources, knowledge, and expertise.<\/p>\n These interventions, he added, was also designed to support the country\u2019s efforts to diversify and grow the economy by modernising agriculture, accelerating industri\u00adalisation, and prioritising climate resilience and mitigation.<\/p>\n Watch the latest edition of BizTech below:<\/b><\/p>\n![\"Minister](\"https:\/\/cdn.ghanaweb.com\/imagelib\/pics\/956\/95696358.295.jpg\" "\\"Minister")
Minister of Food and Agri\u00adculture, Dr Bryan Acheampong<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n