Ghana is positioning six tree crops which are cashew, coconut, oil palm, rubber, mango, and shea as the backbone of a new export diversification strategy, targeting at least 12 billion dollars in annual revenue by 2030.
The projection, announced by the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA), is part of its Vision 2030 strategy, which seeks to transform the non-cocoa tree crops sector into a major foreign exchange earner.
Dr. Andy Osei Okrah, Chief Executive Officer of the TCDA, said the Authority expects an average of two billion dollars annually from each of the six crops, adding that with the necessary investment, the country could exceed this target.
He explained that the Authority’s strategy is anchored on expansion, credibility, visibility, and enforcement. Expansion will focus on increasing farm acreage, improving yields through best agronomic practices, and strengthening value chains to maximise returns.
Credibility will be built by positioning the TCDA as a centre of excellence, strengthening staff capacity, and supporting farmers with technical assistance and pest control services.
Dr. Okrah added that visibility is essential to attract investment, noting that many people are still unaware of the Authority’s work.
To address this, the TCDA is engaging stakeholders and the media, and building a strong corporate brand to draw both local and international investors.
Enforcement, he said, is being ensured through monitoring teams that regulate production, enforce licensing and registration, and combat illicit practices that undermine value chains.
According to him, if the value chains are properly regulated, revenues will remain in Ghana, government will have more fiscal space to create jobs, and businesses will operate in a stronger enabling environment.
He emphasised that growing the sector could reduce Ghana’s reliance on external financial assistance, stating that if the country gets it right, resorting to the IMF may not even be necessary because the resources would be generated domestically.
Agricultural experts believe the Authority’s 12 billion dollar revenue target is ambitious but attainable if supported by the right policies. They point to global demand for products such as cashew, coconut, and shea butter, and stress that Ghana can benefit more if it moves away from raw commodity exports into processing and value addition.
Nonetheless, the Vision 2030 strategy will not only diversify Ghana’s export base beyond cocoa but also provide greater stability against commodity price fluctuations, while securing sustainable income for farmers and boosting the wider economy.
The TCDA was established under the Tree Crops Development Authority Act, 2019 (Act 1010), with the mandate to regulate and develop the production, processing, and trading of cashew, shea, mango, coconut, rubber, and oil palm in a sustainable way.
Its mission is to transform these crops into major foreign exchange earners, diversify Ghana’s agricultural exports, and support job creation, industrialisation, and rural development.
