The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Oil Palm Research Institute (CSIR‑OPRI) has welcomed the government’s plan to develop 100,000 hectares of oil‑palm plantations as part of the 2026 budget adjustments.
In a media briefing, Dr. Isaac Danso, Director and Principal Research Scientist at CSIR‑OPRI, outlined the institute’s rationale, challenges facing the sector, and the role it can play in turning the ambitious target into reality.
Dr. Danso said the commendation is rooted in four strategic objectives: reducing the economy’s reliance on cocoa, gold, and timber exports; diversifying national revenue sources; creating new growth pillars; and integrating rural communities into the broader economy. “These goals align directly with the country’s development agenda,” he said.
Sector challenges
The institute highlighted six major obstacles that could hinder the programme:
– Use of uncertified planting material, which significantly reduces yields in plantations.
– Poor agronomic practices among many growers.
– Limited processing capacity and low technology adoption.
– Lack of accessible credit facilities for farmers and investors.
– Inadequate funding and logistics for CSIR-OPRI to undertake further research into the crop.
– Low value‑addition, with most producers exporting crude palm oil (CPO) without further processing.
CSIR‑OPRI’s contribution
CSIR‑OPRI outlined a concrete plan to support the 100,000‑hectare target:
1. Supply of improved high-yielding hybrid planting material – The institute can produce about one million hybrid seedlings per year, each with a yield potential of 25 tonnes per hectare annually and an early‑maturing period of 2.5 years. Through its subsidiary Ghana Sumatra Ltd., it can generate roughly 12 million pre‑germinated seed‑nuts each year. In total, the 100,000 ha oil palm project will require 15 million planting materials, all of which can be sourced locally from CSIR‑OPRI at Kusi, the Eastern region of Ghana.
2. Technical back‑stopping – The institute will supervise and provide technical support to accredited industrial nursery operators.
3. Extension services – CSIR‑OPRI will assist with site selection, farmer training, formation of farmer associations, and delivery of agronomic advisory services and inputs.
4. Capacity building – Training programmes will be offered to develop the manpower needed for production and value addition, including capacity building for the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) staff on technology adoption.
5. Feasibility studies – The institute will conduct feasibility studies to guide potential oil‑palm investors.
Recommendations to the government
To maximise the chances of success, CSIR‑OPRI advises:
– Prioritising nucleus‑estate development, covering about 90 % of the 100,000 hectares, with the remaining 10 % allocated to small‑holder schemes, following the Indonesian and Malaysian models.
– Requiring investors to source all certified seed‑nuts from Ghana, thereby boosting the domestic economy.
– Using the climate‑suitability map already produced by the CSIR-OPRI as a guide for investor entry.
– Ensuring strict regulatory compliance throughout the value chain.
Among others, if these measures are implemented, officials say the programme could generate thousands of jobs, raise rural incomes, and add significant value to Ghana’s export basket beyond raw commodities.
With the government financing mechanism, coupled with CSIR‑OPRI’s technical backing and a clear roadmap, the 100,000‑hectare oil‑palm target appears increasingly attainable.