The government has launched a nationwide training and capacity-building program for coconut farmers under the presidential initiative for coconut development.

The first phase of the training session kicked off at the Prempeh Assembly Hall in Kumasi, with about 500 coconut farmers and agricultural officers from the Ashanti and Western North regions in attendance.

The flagship program of the Presidential Initiative in Agriculture and Agribusiness (PIAA), funded by Ghana Exim Bank, is a joint effort between the Coconut Federation-Ghana (COCOFEG) and the Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE), aimed at boosting coconut production and strengthening the industry.

Ghana, already Africa’s leading coconut producer and the 12th globally, plans to build on the momentum of the current programme with a target of supplying 10 million seedlings of the crop to farmers across the country.

At the launch, Dr Peter Boamah Otokunor, Director of Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness (PIAA), explained that the training is geared towards empowering farmers with the technical expertise required to successfully nurture the coconut seedlings, ultimately boosting their productivity and yields.

He said the coconut initiative aims to position coconut as a game-changer in Ghana's agricultural sector. He added that it is also designed to promote job creation, rural empowerment and export diversification.

He noted that the training program will be rolled out across all eleven regions participating in the presidential initiative on coconut Development.

Dr Otokunor urged farmers to take full advantage of the expertise being offered by the agricultural specialists, emphasising that the knowledge and skills gained would be crucial to the success of the project.

He observed that the government's quest to invest in a second phase depends on the success of the current project.

"We have brought together experts with a deep understanding of coconut farming to share their knowledge and skills with you. We encourage you to absorb as much as you can and apply it practically to ensure the project's success. Also, be ambassadors for this capacity building and training to share the insights and tips with fellow farmers who weren't able to join us, so we can collectively drive progress in our coconut industry."

The government aims to double its current 90,000 acres of coconut farms to 180,000 by 2028. To achieve this, it distributed 3 million improved seedlings to 2,000 farmers last year through the President's Coconut Value Chain Initiative.

Dr Otokunor announced that upon completion of the training, participants will be awarded a certificate, which will serve as verification for offtakers who have entered into agreements with the government to purchase the coconut produce, thereby providing farmers with a secured market outlet.

Raman Taminu, Project Manager of Coconut Federation-Ghana, emphasised that the government's goal of distributing free coconut seedlings will fall flat if farmers lack the necessary production skills.

He noted that while the government is committed to boosting agricultural productivity, as shown by the nationwide distribution of improved seedlings, success hinges on farmers' ability to nurture and manage them effectively for optimal yield.

He emphasised his outfit’s commitment to mobilising farmers and building systems to make Ghana a centre of excellence for coconut production in Africa.

Mr Isaac Obeng Antwi, Deputy Project Manager of Ghana Exim Bank, reaffirmed the bank's unwavering support for the farmers and the initiative in the coconut value chain for export.

“The mandate of GHANA EXIMBANK is two-fold: to help improve Ghana’s exports while reducing the country’s import value. That is why this initiative is important. We’re supporting some of you.

“EXIMBANK would have supported the setting up of many factories to add value to the coconut you’ll produce by the third year of this project,” he said