05-06 Sep, 2012 - Accra, GHANA
La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, Accra
La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, Accra
Ghana’s ‘Oil Palm Master Plan’ and national Tree Crop policy, recently unveiled by the Government is expected to raise the country’s competitiveness in production of commodities within the next 15 years. This will also help meet the estimated local demand of 295,000 metric tonnes for the manufacturing industry. ‘The Oil Palm Master Plan’ is expected to serve as the blue print which outlines the set of projects and programmes to be implemented for the sector’s growth. Access to financing, certification, land-use policy, technology transfer, infrastructure development from the farm to the port, pricing mechanism and marketing will be the primary focus.
Currently, 305,700 hectares of oil palm plantations is under cultivation. But to meet the local demand there is a requirement for an additional 20,000 hectares. The 2010 palm oil output projected stood at 260,000 metric tonnes, indicating a deficit of 35,000 metric tonnes, which left the government with no choice but to spend US$100 million per year on importation to make up the deficit. If managed properly, the country can benefit from the huge market created by the unmet demand for palm oil.
Head of the Tree Crops Development Unit, Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Joseph Baidoo-Williams said in an interview that the development of the plan would make it very easy to attract donor support to enhance palm oil production. He added that the government would support two new oil-palm out-grower schemes next year in the Western Region.
The output from Benso Oil Palm Plantation (BOPP),Twifo Oil Palm Plantation (TOPP), the major producers in the country, as well and Ghana Oil Palm Development and Norwegian firm Norpalm is only 80,000 tonnes per annum, as against the demand by Unilever alone, which is 90,000 tonnes.
At Palm Oil Africa which will take place on 05-06 September in Accra, official speakers as well as key representatives from the private sector will present their views and share their expert views on Africa’s palm oil industry. Hon. Yaw Effah-Baafi, Deputy Minister,Ministry of Food & Agriculture, Ghana will grace the event and deliver an official Keynote Address entitled “Investment Opportunities in Palm Oil & Rubber Plantations in Ghana”.
To take part in this event, Register here now. Else contact Ms. Hafizah at hafizah@cmtsp.com.sg for queries.
View full article here.
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