Ghana targets 60% boost in coconut exports
Ghana is setting its sights on a dramatic expansion of the coconut industry, aiming to raise annual export earnings by nearly 60 per cent, from USD11.4 million to USD18.1 million, through a sweeping farmer registration and seedling distribution initiative.
Announcing the plan in Accra, Dr Peter Boamah Otokunor, Director of Presidential Initiatives on Agriculture and Agribusiness, said the strategy is designed to cement Ghana’s status as Africa’s leading coconut exporter while boosting its share of the lucrative global market.
“The distribution of three million elite coconut seedlings, which we are opening registration for today, is designed to scale progress dramatically and expand cultivation by 20,000 hectares. The expected outcomes are bold and transformational.
“We aim to expand cultivated area from 90,000 hectares to 110,000 hectares and eventually to 150,000 hectares in the medium term. Most importantly, this initiative will increase export revenue by 60 per cent, from USD11.4 million to more than USD18.1 million annually,” Dr Otokunor explained.
Registration Open to Farmers and Agri-preneurs
The nationwide registration drive is part of the government’s Three Million Coconut Seedlings Programme, which provides high-yield seedlings to farmers at no cost.
Farmers, cooperatives and young agri-preneurs can register through the official portal, www.piaa.gov.gh, until 30 September 2025.
Officials say the initiative will not only increase export earnings but also create jobs in processing, packaging and value addition. These sectors are seen as critical for rural development and foreign exchange generation.
Building a Continental Hub
Dr Otokunor also revealed that the Presidential Initiatives Directorate is collaborating with the Coconut Federation of Ghana to establish the African Coconut Board (AFRICOBOD), which will be headquartered in Ghana.
AFRICOBOD will unite coconut-producing countries across the continent to share best practices, coordinate research and promote Africa as a global hub for coconut production and trade.
“This is about more than exports. It is about positioning Ghana and Africa to compete globally while ensuring farmers and entrepreneurs benefit from the full value chain,” Dr Otokunor noted.
