30th October 2024 2:50:56 PM
2 mins readThe Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Dr. Afua Asabea Asare, has indicted that the coconut industry is paving way for economic advancement and considering it as an essential avenue for achieving sustainable livelihoods.
While addressing attendees at the fourth International Coconut Festival Ghana (ICFG) in Accra, she underscored the diverse applications of coconut across various industries, earning it the nickname "tree of life."“From food and beverages to cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and even construction materials, coconut is central to many value-added industries," she said.
“The coconut sector is providing significant employment opportunities and contributing to rural development, poverty reduction, and foreign exchange earnings. Coconut is now more than just a crop in Ghana – it represents a pathway to sustainable livelihoods, innovation, and employment for thousands across the country,” she stated.In this context, the CEO reiterated GEPA’s commitment to strengthening the coconut industry in the country.
The authority plans to achieve this by prioritizing capacity building, research, and technological advancements, ensuring that Ghanaian coconut products are both competitive and sustainable.Dr. Asabea Asare urged the public to view coconuts as a significant investment opportunity in agriculture and to embrace innovative strategies to foster deeper growth.
“To maintain and expand our presence in the global market, we must embrace innovation across the value chain by adopting modern farming techniques and improved seed varieties to advanced processing technologies and creative product development,” she said.Ghana is currently the top coconut exporter in Africa and ranks 12th worldwide, producing more than 500,000 metric tonnes each year.
In 2022, the country earned US$15 billion from coconut exports, with forecasts suggesting this figure could rise to US$25.3 billion by 2029.The coconut industry transformation journeyRecognizing the increasing global demand for coconuts, GEPA launched the coconut revitalization initiative in 2017, aiming to rejuvenate the struggling coconut industry and enhance the supply capacity within the value chain.
Since then, the Authority has made significant investments in the sector, focusing on the procurement and distribution of disease-resistant coconut seedlings to farmers in the key coconut-growing regions, including Volta, Eastern, Western, Central, and Asante.Over one million seedlings have been distributed, resulting in the creation of approximately 350,000 jobs within the coconut value chain.
The coconut industry has evolved into one of the most vibrant sectors, making substantial contributions to the export economy and positively impacting many families and communities.The three-day conference, held at the Accra International Conference Center (AICC), brought together key stakeholders from both local and international coconut value chains.
It highlighted the economic and health benefits of coconuts, encouraged investment, and opened new marketing opportunities.Held under the theme “Empowering Lives through Coconut: Innovation, Employment, and Sustainable Livelihoods,” the festival was supported by the GEPA, the Western Regional Coordinating Council (WRCC), the Tree Crop Development Authority (TCDA), and Solidaridad, the development partner.
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