Ghana’s coconut industry is getting a major boost as the Coconut Federation of Ghana (COCOFEG) has presented more than 81,000 hybrid seedlings to smallholder farmers in the Techiman Municipality, a move industry players say could unlock new agribusiness opportunities and spur rural economic growth.
The seedlings, handed over to the Techiman Municipal Directorate of Agriculture, form part of a larger national effort to scale up coconut production under the government’s “Feed the Industry” programme, which seeks to build raw material bases for agro-industrial expansion and improve food security.
According to the Techiman Municipal Director of Agriculture, Stephen Aidoo, the new distribution adds to the 61,000 seedlings already shared earlier this year, bringing total allocations to over 81,000 for 2025.
By the end of October, the figure is expected to hit 100,000, supporting over 500 small-scale and commercial farmers cultivating more than 1,000 acres of coconut plantations.
Building an Agribusiness Value Chain
Beyond subsistence farming, the initiative signals a shift toward commercial coconut cultivation and value-chain development, from raw nut production to processing into high-value products like virgin coconut oil, cosmetics, and beverages.
Aidoo said the sector’s growth potential lies in its ability to generate steady income streams for smallholders while attracting private investment into processing and export ventures.
“Coconut is not just a crop but it’s an economic asset that embodies resilience and versatility. If strategically developed, it can anchor local agro-industrialisation and create sustainable jobs,” he noted.
He said the Directorate’s long-term target is to distribute three million hybrid seedlings nationwide, which could transform the sector into a multi-million-dollar agribusiness capable of competing in regional and global markets.
Market and Export Opportunities
The coconut industry is emerging as one of Ghana’s most promising non-traditional export sectors, driven by growing demand for organic products in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
With an estimated annual national output of 65 million metric tons, the sector already sustains millions of livelihoods, 95% of which are smallholder farmers.
Industry analysts say with hybrid seedlings and improved agronomic practices, Ghana could double its export volumes within the next five years, particularly if investments are channelled into processing infrastructure, logistics, and certification systems that meet international market standards.
For Techiman, one of Ghana’s fastest-growing agribusiness hubs, the coconut distribution drive is expected to diversify local agricultural production and attract investors into related sectors such as packaging, transport, and processing.
“Every seedling represents potential income, employment, and industrial growth,” Mr. Aidoo emphasized. “When farmers are empowered with quality inputs, we don’t just improve rural livelihoods; we strengthen the entire value chain.”
The “Feed the Industry” programme, under which the initiative falls, is part of government’s broader agenda to link primary production with agro-processing, ensuring that industrial expansion is backed by sustainable supply chains.
Stakeholders say if the coconut initiative is backed by consistent financing and market access policies, Ghana could replicate the export success stories of countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka where coconut-based industries contribute billions to national GDP.
