The Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA), in collaboration with the Mampong Municipal Assembly, has launched an agricultural input support programme for tree crop farmers in the municipality, targeted at enhancing productivity.
The Board Chairman of the TCDA, Professor William Oduro, in his remarks reiterated the authority's commitment to transforming the fortunes of Ghana's six priority tree crops to promote growth, productivity and climate resilience, in line with the government's RESET Agenda and the Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda (AETA).
He stressed the role tree crops could play in expanding foreign exchange gains to significantly impact socio-economic growth.
The Chief Executive Officer of TCDA, Dr Andy Osei Okrah, explained that the authority's mandate covered six priority tree crops, including cashew, oil palm, rubber, shea, mango and coconut.
He said the authority was working to move Ghana beyond the export of raw materials towards a value-added tree crops industry, with interventions focused on the provision of improved seedlings, farmer training, traceability and market linkages.
Agricultural inputs
The initiative saw the distribution of various agricultural inputs and equipment to beneficiaries to help improve productivity and promote the sustainable development of the tree crops sector.
Some of the items ready for distribution on display
The TCDA is the government’s agency mandated to regulate, develop and promote Ghana's tree crops sector to enhance productivity, increase farmers' income and promote sustainable livelihoods.
In his address, the Mampong Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Issifu Yakubu, said agriculture remained the backbone of the nation's economy and a major source of livelihood for households in Mampong, employing more than 60 per cent of Ghanaians and contributing significantly to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and export earnings.
Mr Yakubu commended farmers for their vital role in ensuring food security and reaffirmed the government's commitment to prioritising agriculture.
He highlighted the government's Reset Agenda, which sought to attract more young people into agriculture by changing negative perceptions about farming and promoting the sector as a viable and rewarding career path.
The MCE assured farmers of the continued technical support of the Assembly's Department of Agriculture to help them improve on their farming activities.
The Mamponghene, Daasebre Osei Bonsu II, pledged the support of the Traditional Council towards the successful implementation of the initiative.
Beneficiaries expressed gratitude for the support, which included seedlings, fertilisers, knapsack sprayers, motorcycles, tricycles and protective gear, and pledged to put the items to good use to improve their farms and livelihoods.
