Some of the oil palm seedlings
Ghana is currently facing a significant deficit in oil palm production says, Director, Oil Palm Research Institute, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Dr. Isaac Danso.
The country’s annual demand for palm oil is approximately 450,000 metric tons. However, the local production only meets about 300,000 metric tons, leaving a substantial annual deficit of 150,000 metric tons.
Speaking at the official launch of ECOPALMS GH, a company that raises oil palm seedlings for cultivation, Dr. Danso described oil palm as the second most important cash crop in the country.
ECOPALMS GH, was established by the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation to introduce oil palm cultivation in some of its host communities.
Dr. Danso said since ECOPALMS GH obtains the certified seedlings from CSIR, he was hopeful that the initiative will go a long way in bridging the deficit.
Executive Secretary of the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation, Abdel Razak Yakubu, said prior to the establishment of ECOPALMS GH, the oil palm seedlings were being procured from Kade in the Eastern Region.
He said so much was being paid for transportation and because of the long distance, the health of the seedlings were being affected.
“We then had an idea that we could develop the seedlings locally and so the Pepesa community gave a parcel of land for the project and 18 persons were assisted to form the company”, he indicated.
He disclosed that the Foundation invested an amount of about GH¢180,000 in the project which lasted for about eight months.
“Now we are buying the over 20,000 seedlings from ECOPALMS GH at a total cost of about GH¢280,000 for distribution to other farmers who want to go into oil palm plantation,” Mr. Yakubu said.
“So with an investment of GH¢180,000, they are making GH¢280,000. This shows that the initiative is a lucrative venture. If we had bought the seedlings at market price the amount would have been doubled,” he said.
“The youth in the communities can benefit a lot from this project and they will have no motivation to go into illegal mining or any risky activities”, he pointed out.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Pepesa