Gov’t to Support Expansion Plan for 100,000 Hectares of Oil Palm Plantations

The government is set to support 100,000 hectares of new oil palm plantations as part of efforts to increase domestic production, create jobs and reduce Ghana’s dependence on imported palm oil.

The announcement was made by the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku, at the National Oil Palm Forum in Accra on Wednesday.

The forum was organised by the Tree Crops Development Authority under the theme: “From Policy to Practice: The Role of TCDA in Resetting Ghana’s Oil Palm Industry.”

Hon. Opoku said the plan forms part of a broader strategy to reset the oil palm industry and position it as a key driver of economic growth and food security.

He called for stronger collaboration among government, farmers, investors, financial institutions and other stakeholders to build a productive, inclusive and sustainable oil palm industry.

The Minister identified five key areas requiring immediate action, including improving productivity and access to quality planting materials, strengthening smallholder participation, addressing land and financing constraints, expanding processing and value addition, and developing a traceable, inclusive and sustainable value chain.

“From policy to practice, Ghana is resetting the oil palm industry for sustainable growth and greater economic opportunity,” Hon. Opoku stated.

Stakeholders at the forum pledged support for the initiative, noting that increased investment in research, financing and infrastructure will be critical to achieving the 100,000-hectare target.

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