Sunyani: Mr. Owusu Banahene, the Sunyani Municipal Director of Agriculture, announced that the directorate is set to receive 80,000 hybrid coconut seedlings for distribution to registered coconut farmers in the municipality to enhance coconut production.
According to Ghana News Agency, the distribution of these seedlings is part of the government's Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness (PIAA) programme, launched by the President in 2025. Mr. Banahene explained that the PIAA, with funding from the Ghana Exim Bank, is being implemented by the Ghana Coconut Federation (CocoFeG).
The programme aims to expand agriculture and agribusiness, create jobs, improve livelihoods, and increase national production to boost the nation's coconut export earnings. Mr. Banahene noted that many coconut farmers have shown interest in the PIAA. Previously, the directorate received 20,000 hybrid and Malaysian dwarf seedlings in 2025, which were distributed to about 156 registered farmers.
He mentioned that land availability is not an issue, as hundreds of acres have been prepared for cultivation in the municipality. The directorate is expecting to receive the seedlings from the Ministry of Agriculture (MoFA) soon.
Mr. Banahene added that the COCOFeG is facilitating the process so that the directorate can receive and distribute the coconut seedlings to the farmers in time for the planting season. He urged the various Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies to ensure that lands reserved for the plantation are not encroached upon.