French Ambassador Visits Smallholder Plantation Projects

The French Ambassador Mr. Jean-Michel Berrit and the Western Regional Minister Mr. Joseph Aidoo will today commission the molecular biology laboratory for coconut research in Takoradi, which is supported by France (equipment worth 255 million cedis plus two French researchers from le Centre de Recherche Agronomique pour le Developpement). The laboratory is located in the premises of the Oil Palm Research Institute (OPRI).

Mr. Berrit yesterday visited the sites of the rubber plantation outgrower project and the coconut plantation rehabilitation project in Western Region funded by Agence Francaise de Development (AFD). He was accompanied by a team of experts including the Resident Manager of AFD.

The Rubber Outgrowers' Project is being implemented by Ghana Rubber Estates Ltd. (GREL) in partnership with the Government of Ghana (MoFA).

A release from AFD said the project costing 6.9 million euros (?57.5 billion) aims to develop agricultural exports, thus improving the country's trade balance; to encourage the development and involvement of private entities into the agricultural sector; and to stabilise the rural population and improve its revenue.

The project, of 10 years duration, is being implemented in two phases. Since 1995, the first phase has been implemented with the development of 1,200 ha of rubber outgrowers' plantation over 5 years and the rehabilitation of 1,300 ha of existing rubber plantations over 3 years.

The second phase, developing 2,800 ha, is to be carried out over a period of 5 years (2000 - 2004).

The Agricultural Development Bank is managing and monitors the agricultural credit for the farmers.

On completion the project will have developed 4,000 ha of plantations with a potential annual production of more than 5,200 tonnes of rubber for export. The project also will increase the incomes of 900 farmers and their organizational skills.

The Coconut Sector Development Project costing 3.9 million euros (?32.5 billion) aims at eradicating the destructive disease that is threatening the destruction of coconut plantations along entire coastal zone of the Western Region

The objectives of the project are: replanting 1,200 ha of destroyed plantations with tolerant varieties; increasing production on 2,000 ha of existing plantations not yet affected by the disease, through the use of fertilisers (intensification); development of a research program; and increasing the productivity of the traditional method of processing used by the women, by means of technical improvement and support.

Ghana Rubber Estates Ltd. (GREL) is entrusted with the project development and management, while the Agricultural Development Bank manages and monitors the agricultural credit for the farmers and the women processors.

The NGO "Ricerca e Cooperazione" is in charge of training programs benefiting the farmers and women processors. OPRI (Oil Palm Research Institute) in close collaboration with CIRAD of France is handling the applied research component.

As at end of August 2002, the achievements of the project (which started in April 1999) are:

* Production of planting material: the production of the tolerant hybrid is being pursued at the Aiyinasi seed garden and the pollen is imported from Cote d'Ivoire. To broaden the planting material production, a new 30 ha seed garden has been established at Bonsaso near Tarkwa in the Western Region and in order to avoid the importation of pollen, a pollinator garden has been created at Kade in the Eastern Region.

* Replanting: 761 ha benefiting 638 farmers in 64 villages;

* Intensification: 816 ha benefiting 310 farmers in 27 villages;

* Processing: the project is now refocusing (i) on the construction of improved furnaces, (ii) on the distribution of improved grating machines and (iii) on the development of new technology for effluent treatment.

The nuts production per annum will increase to a yield of 35.8 million from 2004 onwards. It is expected to have a decisive impact to restore the revenues of the farmers whose plantations have been destroyed in the Central and Western Regions, and contribute to the food security. It will directly benefit 1,100 farmers and indirectly benefit the 20,000 families involved in the coconut sector.