Ghana Export Promotion Authority Set to Support Farmers, Boost Coconut Production

By Richard Adorsu-

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NEW AFRICA BUSINESS NEWS (NABN) Accra- Ghana, efforts to boost revenue from non-traditional exports, Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), set to distribute 160,000 coconut seedlings to farmers in the country, to increase coconut production.

Ghana is seeking to rake in $2 billion from export of coconut by 2023. Already, GEPA has distributed 100,000 coconut seedlings to farmers in the Western and Central regions.

Speaking to the media after a symbolic handing over event, Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Export Promotion Authority, Dr. Afua Asabea Asare, said farmers in nine regions will benefit from the distribution of seedlings.

“We hope to see these coconut seedlings be planted nationwide. We are hoping to cover the whole country by the next planting season. Hope they take good care of the seedlings, so that they can yield enough to contribute to the planned exports.

We have worked with these groups closely and we know what they are capable of doing. We are in high spirits, this is the beginning of a very good relationship. The fact that, they are so bent on seeing this work and we are bent on helping them make it work. It’s always being a good collaboration. Every part of the coconut is useful. So if this works well, we are going to see so much coming out of it,” she said.

Meanwhile, the President of the Coconut Farmers Association of Ghana, Patrick Ndabiah, said the Association will soon come out with a price mechanism to help improve revenue to coconut farmers.

“It’s an opportunity for national corporation and for the board in place to regulate the pricing. This  opportunity for GEPA to support us so that by 2024, we will be able to increase production and will be able to meet extra demand. We will put in place all structures and machinery that will gear towards the success of the project,” he said. Currently, though the projected global growth in the coconut industry is pegged at $15 billion by 2024, the production level in Ghana about $224 million annually, and about $179 million of the total production produced by small farm holders.

For New Africa Business News Richard Adorsu Reports,  Africa Correspondent

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