The government has unveiled plans to introduce a National Oil Palm industry policy as part of its newly-launched 'Feed Ghana Programme.'

This initiative aims to reduce the country's dependence on food and chicken imports by supporting schools, institutions, and households to engage in farming, with a particular focus on boosting oil palm production.

To revitalise the country’s palm oil sector, the government is working with the Tree Crop Development Authority, which is promoting six strategic crops: oil palm, cashew, mango, coconut, shea, and rubber, with a special emphasis on oil palm. Due to its immense local and global potential, oil palm will be the focal point of this new policy.

Speaking at the launch of the Feed Ghana Programme, President Mahama highlighted the policy’s goal of unlocking the full potential of oil palm, often referred to as "brown gold."

"With the right support systems in place, Ghana can become a key player in the international market while meeting the needs of its domestic consumers," he said.

He also noted that the global palm oil market is projected to reach $65 billion by 2027, making it a critical sector for Ghana’s economic growth.

Currently, Ghana produces 300,000 metric tons of oil palm annually, but demand stands at 450,000 metric tons, resulting in a deficit of 150,000 metric tons.

As part of the new policy, targeted incentives will be introduced across the oil palm value chain, from cultivation to processing and export, to bridge this gap and boost both local production and global competitiveness.

President Mahama also addressed the country's food import bill, which currently amounts to $2 billion annually.

"This is something we must all be ashamed of," he said. "It is time for us to produce what we eat, reduce our reliance on imports, and revitalise our agro-industries."

He highlighted that many agro-industries in the country are operating far below capacity.

As part of the Feed Ghana Programme, institutional farming will be a key focus. President Mahama announced that all senior high schools with available land will be supported to engage in crop and livestock farming, promoting the growing of vegetables and encouraging students to participate in backyard gardening.

“Everybody will be encouraged to get some land near their house or behind their house and grow tomatoes, garden eggs, okra, onions, and pepper,” he said.

He urged Ghanaians to embrace backyard gardening, recalling the success of the Operation Feed Yourself initiative in previous decades.

The Feed Ghana Programme also includes other important projects, such as the Grains and Legumes Development Project, Vegetable Development Project, Livestock Development, and the Poultry Industry Revitalisation.

President Mahama stressed that the revitalisation of the poultry industry is crucial, as Ghana imports nearly $400 million worth of chicken annually. “This we all must be ashamed of,” he added.

The introduction of the National Palm Oil Industry Policy, along with the broader Feed Ghana Programme, is a significant step towards reducing the country’s food import dependency and improving domestic food production.

With a focus on strategic crops like oil palm, the government aims to increase agricultural output, create jobs, and improve food security.

He reiterated that the National Oil Palm Industry Policy will provide strategic incentives across the entire value chain, from cultivation to export, enabling Ghana to tap into the vast potential of the oil palm industry both domestically and internationally.

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