The government plans to support the development of 100,000 hectares of new oil palm plantations as the government seeks to increase domestic production, create jobs and reduce the country’s dependence on imported palm oil.
Agriculture Minister Eric Opoku announced the plan at the National Oil-Palm Forum in Accra, organised by the Tree Crops Development Authority under the theme, “From Policy to Practice: The Role of TCDA in Resetting Ghana’s Oil Palm Industry.”
The expansion is intended to strengthen Ghana’s domestic oil palm industry while creating greater economic opportunities across the value chain, the minister said.
Opoku called for stronger collaboration among government, farmers, investors, financial institutions and other stakeholders to build a productive, inclusive and sustainable oil palm industry.
The minister identified five areas requiring immediate attention as Ghana seeks to reset the sector.
The first is improving productivity and access to quality planting materials, which would support farmers in increasing yields.
The government also wants to strengthen smallholder participation, alongside efforts to address constraints related to land and financing.
The fourth priority is expanding processing and value addition, while the fifth is developing a traceable, inclusive and sustainable value chain.
The focus on processing is aimed at strengthening activity beyond primary production and creating more opportunities across the oil palm value chain.
According to him, the expansion will require coordinated action from both public and private-sector participants.
Farmers, investors and financial institutions will be important to the development of new plantations and the expansion of processing capacity, while government agencies will play a role in addressing policy and structural constraints.
The 100,000-hectare target forms part of the government’s broader effort to increase domestic production and reduce reliance on imported palm oil.
The initiative places productivity, smallholder participation, financing, processing and sustainability at the centre of Ghana’s plans to develop the oil palm industry and increase its contribution to the economy.
