The Board of the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) has approved a flagship initiative to establish 16,000 hectares of tree-crop plantations across all 16 regions of Ghana. Each region will allocate at least 1,000 hectares to the cultivation of key tree crops, including cashew, oil palm, coconut, shea, mango, and rubber.
The initiative is intended to expand agricultural activity across the country, move away from reliance on cocoa, and create more opportunities for rural communities through the development of commercially important tree crops.
Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, John Dumelo, described the Tree Crops Diversification Project as a “game changer” for the sector, highlighting its alignment with the Feed Ghana initiative and its potential to support both domestic industries and international markets.
However, the success of this initiative will be measured not solely by the area cultivated, but by the effectiveness of the supporting systems established around it. The history of cocoa underscores the potential pitfalls of concentrating on a single crop without sufficient market regulation, processing infrastructure, or land protection. Over the years, cocoa farmers have faced numerous challenges, including illegal mining activities, which have resulted in the encroachment upon and destruction of productive farmland. In regions such as Bono, reports indicate that illegal miners have forced farmers to lease or abandon land, thereby threatening the sustainability of the crop and the livelihoods of communities that depend on it. In response to these pressures, Bono Regional Minister Joseph Addae Akwaboa remarked, “We cannot allow illegal mining to destroy our lands and jeopardize the future of the cashew industry. The government is committed to ensuring that our farmers and investors thrive in a secure and sustainable environment.” This statement reflects the urgency of pairing agricultural development with effective land protection measures to safeguard investments and ensure long-term sectoral growth.
Equally critical to the success of the tree-crop initiative is the development of robust market structures, value chains, and processing capacity. The challenges encountered in the cocoa sector, where farmers often struggled to secure fair prices or consistent buyers, illustrate the necessity of establishing clear, predictable market pathways. CEO of TCDA, Dr. Andy Osei Okrah, has emphasised that, with appropriate support, regions such as Bono could become hubs for tree crop production and processing, creating employment opportunities and enhancing livelihoods. International partners, including the World Bank, have spotlighted the importance of this approach, supporting efforts to provide access to inputs, technical advice, and financial services that strengthen production and enable local processing, thereby maximising economic returns.
Farmers themselves have articulated the need for improved access to markets and the assurance of fair pricing. In the cashew sector, concerns have been raised about unauthorised traders manipulating prices, purchasing unripe nuts, and undermining established trade practices. Ensuring structured off-take agreements and regulated participation in markets is therefore essential to secure predictable income streams for farmers and to maintain confidence in long-term tree crop investments. At the same time, the establishment of processing facilities and agro-industrial hubs is critical to reducing post-harvest losses and ensuring that produce does not leave farms solely as raw materials but contributes to domestic industrial activity and value addition.
The sustainability of this initiative also depends on investment in human capital and the dissemination of agronomic knowledge. Tree crops require careful management, particularly in the early years of growth, and farmers must be equipped with the necessary skills to optimise yields, manage seasonal cycles, and integrate best practices in crop maintenance. The provision of extension services, access to quality planting materials, and guidance on climate-smart practices are essential to ensuring that the seedlings reach maturity and generate meaningful economic and food security benefits.
In addition, the integration of agritech and agri-fintech solutions, including access to credit, insurance, and digital market platforms, will facilitate more efficient connections between farmers, processors, and buyers. Such measures reduce risk, encourage investment, and support the emergence of a professionalised, resilient tree crop sector. The Vision 2030 strategy of TCDA anticipates substantial economic returns, projecting significant revenue generation from key tree crops by the end of the decade, contingent on effective implementation, regulatory oversight, and strategic partnerships with private sector actors.
