Government trains farmers to boost coconut production and exports

Government has launched a nationwide training programme for coconut farmers. The initiative aims to go beyond simply increasing acreage, focusing instead on improving farmers’ skills, productivity, and readiness for local and international markets.

The first phase of the programme kicked off in Kumasi, bringing together around 500 coconut farmers and agricultural officers from the Ashanti and Western North regions. Participants took part in practical sessions covering agronomic practices, pest and disease management, post‑harvest handling, and strategies to tap into the wider value chain. By equipping farmers with technical knowledge, farm management skills, and access to organised networks, the government hopes to ensure that higher production also means higher quality output that can compete globally.

The programme is being implemented under the Presidential Initiative on Agriculture and Agribusiness (PIAA), with funding support from Ghana EXIM Bank and technical coordination by the Coconut Federation-Ghana (COCOFEG) and the Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE). Authorities describe the collaboration as a model for stronger public-private partnerships in Ghana’s agribusiness sector.

Ghana is already Africa’s leading coconut producer and ranks among the top dozen globally. The coconut industry supports thousands of smallholder farmers and contributes significantly to rural incomes. The government is now placing equal emphasis on value-added products such as coconut oil, activated carbon, fibres, and other derivatives to increase export earnings.

By improving skills and linking farmers to the wider value chain, the initiative is expected to create jobs, boost rural incomes, and foster small-scale processing industries, ensuring that Ghana’s agricultural transformation prioritizes not just quantity, but quality, competitiveness, and sustainability.