GIZ Commits to Strategic Partnership with TCDA to Drive Tree Crop Sector Growth

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Ghana, led by Project Leader Beate Weiskopf, has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Tree Crop Development Authority (TCDA) to promote sustainable growth in Ghana’s tree crop sector, particularly the cashew value chain.

During a high-level meeting with TCDA’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Andy O. Okrah, the two institutions discussed strategies to accelerate sector development through value addition, carbon financing opportunities, research and innovation, and capacity building for farmers and processors.

The dialogue also emphasized the importance of promoting the best agronomic practices to tackle challenges such as Cashew Powdery Mildew and other crop-related diseases.

The partnership is part of GIZ’s broader support to Ghana’s agricultural transformation agenda. GIZ, a German development cooperation agency, has for decades partnered with Ghanaian institutions to strengthen agriculture, climate resilience, and private sector competitiveness.

Through its projects in agribusiness, GIZ focuses on improving productivity, creating jobs, and ensuring inclusive and environmentally sustainable growth.

On the other hand, the Tree Crop Development Authority (TCDA), established by the Tree Crops Development Authority Act, 2019 (Act 1010), serves as the regulatory body for six key tree crops with significant potential for industrialization and export: cashew, shea, mango, coconut, rubber, and oil palm.

TCDA’s mandate includes overseeing the production, processing, trading, and marketing of these crops to boost value addition, create jobs, and enhance foreign exchange earnings for Ghana.

Highlighting the cashew sector’s vast potential for job creation and livelihood improvement, the meeting noted that the collaboration aligns strongly with President John Dramani Mahama’s Feed Ghana Initiative, which seeks to enhance food security, support local industries with quality raw materials, and drive inclusive economic growth.

Both GIZ and TCDA expressed optimism that their partnership will deliver long-term benefits by not only strengthening the cashew value chain but also laying the foundation for broader development across all priority tree crops.

The collaboration is expected to improve farmer incomes, expand agro-industrial capacity, and contribute significantly to Ghana’s economic transformation agenda.