The Government of Ghana, in partnership with the World Bank, is set to launch the Tree Crop Diversification Project (TCDP) on November 14, 2024, in Accra.
This initiative seeks to boost Ghana’s agricultural sector by diversifying its tree crops, with a particular focus on cocoa, cashew, coconut, and rubber production.
At a budget of USD 227.5 million, including a $27.5 million contribution from the Ghana COCOBOD, the TCDP will tackle pressing issues like productivity, child labor, and gender inequality in the sector, marking a key step towards sustainable economic growth.
“The project offers a unique opportunity to reshape Ghana’s agricultural landscape for generations to come,” the Ministry wrote in a statement released on Monday, November 11, 2024.
The TCDP outlines a two-fold strategy targeting both cocoa and other strategic tree crops to enhance productivity, improve market access, and strengthen private-sector competitiveness.
Organized into four key components, the project will focus on strengthening institutions, increasing tree crop productivity with climate-resilient practices, supporting post-harvest management, and implementing monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
The initiative aims to yield higher productivity, greater climate adaptation, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, while also creating safer and fairer labor practices.
According to a press release, the project “will foster equitable opportunities in the agricultural workforce and address critical challenges that compromise sustainability.”
The project will target eleven districts across six regions, carefully selected for their potential impact.
These include cocoa-focused areas in Western North and the Eastern Region, cashew hubs in the Savana and Bono Regions, and coconut and rubber production areas in the Eastern Region.
The project is expected to benefit over 52,775 farmers, creating an estimated 20,000 jobs with an emphasis on empowering women and youth.
