The Agric Department in collaboration with its stakeholders has inaugurated the national Association of Private Tree Crop Nursery Operators (APTCNO) in Wenchi under the theme “Promoting Tree Crop Industry in Ghana, the Role of the Nursery Operator”.
The national event which brought operators and stakeholders from other regions under one umbrella body, was to formalise and unveil programmes, highlight the critical roles and immense contributions of industry players towards the sustainable development of tree crops in Ghana.
The programme places responsibility on the Agric Department to create the enabling environment and link operators to government policies to ensure sustainable operation of stakeholders.
The Coordinating Director of the Wenchi Municipal Assembly Douglas N.K Annoful in his speech said this would provide the needed platform for registered private nursery operators to participate and benefit from national policy and advocacy discussions on tree crop development. It would also provide the needed atmosphere for effective collaboration with value chain stakeholders. He noted that government recognized the role of the tree crop industry hence the establishment of Tree Crop Development Authority to regulate production, processing, trading and marketing of tree crops such as cashew, mango, coconut, rubber, oil palm, etc. He disclosed that the Assembly produced and distributed 250,000 cashew seedlings in 2020 and 2021 to 1, 215 farmers under the PERD and Ghana Productivity Safety Net programme to support tree crop production.
The deputy Minister for Local Government, Dencentralisation & Rural Development Martin Agyei Mensah Korsah, in an inaugural address delivered on his behalf, pledged government’s support.
The Association had executives and representatives from the length and breadth of the country in attendance.
Development Partners such as Mennonite Economic Development Association (MEDA), Cashew Industry Association of Ghana (CIAG) also pledged their continous support to the operators.
Source: Information Services Department (ISD/WMA)
By: Stanick Sofel Amuzu Kpodo