The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA), Dr Andy Osei Okrah, has appealed to the Mamponhene, Daasebre Osei Bonsu III, to make available suitable lands to farmers to support the expansion of tree crop cultivation in the area.
Dr Okrah said access to land remained critical to the success of the government’s efforts to transform tree crop farming into a major contributor to Ghana’s agricultural and economic development.
He made the appeal when he addressed stakeholders during the launch and distribution of agricultural inputs aimed at supporting farmers and promoting the cultivation of tree crops.
The TCDA CEO further called on traditional authorities, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), farmers’ organisations and other relevant stakeholders to support the government’s tree crop development agenda.
He explained that the success of the programme would require a collective effort involving landowners, traditional authorities, farmers, government institutions and other stakeholders.
According to him, making suitable lands available for cultivation, improving farming practices, increasing productivity and ensuring the proper use of inputs and other resources provided to farmers were essential to achieving the desired results.
Dr Okrah urged farmers to change their perception of tree crop farming and regard it as a serious commercial venture capable of providing sustainable livelihoods.
He said tree crop production should no longer be viewed merely as a subsistence activity, stressing that farmers could generate significant and sustainable incomes if they adopted improved production methods and treated farming as a business.
“With the right investment, regulation, technical support and commitment from farmers and stakeholders, Ghana can build a competitive tree crop industry capable of generating significant economic returns,” he said.
He said the government’s investment in the sector was intended not only to increase production but also to create opportunities for farmers, improve rural livelihoods and strengthen Ghana’s agricultural value chain.
The TCDA CEO stressed that the development of the tree crop sector could not be achieved by government alone.
He therefore called for stronger collaboration among traditional authorities, local government institutions, farmer-based organisations, private sector actors and development partners to create an enabling environment for tree crop farmers.
He said traditional authorities had an important role to play by facilitating access to land and supporting initiatives that would encourage young people and other members of the communities to take up tree crop farming.
District Assemblies, he added, could also contribute by supporting farmers with extension services, infrastructure and other interventions that would improve productivity and market access.
Dr Okrah further urged farmers to make prudent use of agricultural inputs distributed under the programme, emphasising that the resources were intended to improve production and increase the returns from farming.
He said the launch and distribution of the agricultural inputs marked another important step in the government’s efforts to reposition tree crop farming as a major pillar of Ghana’s agricultural transformation agenda.
According to him, the country had significant potential in tree crop production and could harness that potential to diversify agricultural exports, create jobs and generate additional economic opportunities, particularly in rural communities.
He said the TCDA would continue to work closely with farmers and other stakeholders to regulate, promote and develop the tree crop sector.
Dr Okrah said the Authority was committed to ensuring that the benefits of tree crop production translated into improved livelihoods for farmers and sustainable economic development for the country.
He, therefore, urged all stakeholders to support the government’s tree crop development agenda by playing their respective roles to ensure that the sector achieved its full potential.
