26m Francs for coconut rehabilitation

 Takoradi(Wetsern Region), 24th July, 99

 The government has secured a 26 million French Franc grant for the rehabilitation of coconut plantations destroyed in the Central and Western Regions.

The grant is from Agence Francaise De Developpment (AFA) , the French aid agency, Mr J.Asiedu-Nketiah, deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, said at Takoradi on Thursday during the inauguration of a 13-member steering committee to oversee the rehabilitation.

Dr.Francis Ofori, Director of Crops Services of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) is the Chairman of the committee.

Mr Asiedu-Nketiah said the project is to review the coconut industries and reduce the effects of the devastating Cape Saint Paul Wilt disease (CSPWD) on the production of coconut in the Central and Western Regions.

He said the five-year project from 1999 to 2003 would be managed by Ghana Rubber Estates Limited with a team of experts on coconut including MOFA professional staff.

The ADB will manage the credit component in collaboration with selected rural banks and women groups engaged in coconut processing in the project areas.

Mr.Asiedu-Nketiah said non-governmental organisations and other relevant organisations have been identified to support the development and organisation of farmers and women processors into groups to benefit from various packages including training and credit.

He said the project would support a research and development programme on selected topics on coconut agronomy and protection to be undertaken by CIRAD, an International Research Institute of France and the National Coconut Research Programme to be co-ordinated by the Oil Palm Research Institute (OPRI).

Mr.Asiedu-Nketiah hoped the diverse expertise of members of the committee would enhance and facilitate the smooth implementation of the project.

He asked the committee to steer the project with the aim of reviving the former lucrative coconut industry of Ghana's coastal areas and urged beneficiary farmers and women processors in the project areas to take full advantage of the opportunities to attract investors into the coconut industry to help to rural employment.

Mr.Benjamin Proust, project officer of AFD, said his organisation would help to improve the lot of women by developing new technologies for the processing of oil, protect the environment and help to reduce rural poverty.

GRi?/