The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Bryan Acheampong, has assured Ghanaians that there will be no food shortages in the coming months.

Speaking at the launch of the government’s $200 million Tree Crop Diversification Project in Accra, he expressed confidence that food prices would remain stable, particularly ahead of the festive season.

This assurance comes as the cost of food in Ghana rose by 22.8% in October 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, according to the Ghana Statistical Service. Food inflation in Ghana has averaged 14.99% since 2013, with a peak of 61.0% in January 2023 and a record low of 5.0% in July 2014.

The Ghana Tree Crop Diversification Project, launched in partnership with the World Bank, aims to address challenges in the country’s food supply system by promoting the production, processing, and trading of six high-value tree crops: cashew, shea, mango, coconut, rubber, and oil palm.

According to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the project is expected to directly benefit 52,775 farmers and households, with a focus on cocoa, cashew, coconut, and rubber farmers. Additionally, 185 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) engaged in processing these crops will also gain from the initiative.

Dr. Acheampong highlighted the tree crop sector’s critical role in agriculture and the economy, providing income for over 1.6 million farming households. The initiative is projected to create 20,000 jobs, with 60% targeting youth employment.

Under the theme “Sowing the Seeds of the Future: Unlocking Ghana’s Tree Crop Potential for Inclusive and Sustainable Transformation,” the project seeks to address key challenges such as deforestation, climate change, and other environmental threats that jeopardize the country’s agricultural sustainability.

In addition to diversification, the government is focusing on modernizing the cocoa sector. The Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) is currently implementing its second Cocoa Sector Development Strategy (CSDS-II), spanning 2017 to 2027.

“This strategy addresses past shortcomings, including ineffective management of the Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease (CSSVD) and the lack of robust information systems,” Dr. Acheampong noted.

Key interventions under CSDS-II include: enhancing productivity and efficiency, driving innovation and quality management, improving traceability and certification and economic benefits.

Dr. Acheampong emphasized the significant opportunities offered by the tree crop sector for economic diversification, job creation, poverty reduction, foreign exchange earnings, and gross domestic product (GDP) contribution.

Despite Ghana’s ample arable land for cocoa production, the minister acknowledged the growing threats posed by deforestation and climate change. He warned that if these trends persist, many cocoa-farming households could face economic hardships, and the country’s foreign exchange revenues could decline.

The Tree Crop Diversification Project marks a critical step toward ensuring inclusive and sustainable transformation of Ghana’s agricultural landscape while bolstering food security and economic resilience.

Source - https://3news.com