Coconut Palm in Ghana - Le cocotier au Ghana

This publication includes the following elements:

  • An overview of the institutions actively engaged in coconut research and development across Ghana.

  • A comprehensive review of research and development projects conducted in the country, presented in reverse chronological order—from the most recent initiatives to the earliest documented efforts.

  • Detailed information on the field mission carried out in Ghana and related publications by R. Bourdeix, including objectives, key findings, and perspectives.

Overview of the institutions actively engaged in coconut research 

Ghana's coconut R&D integrates public research institutes (CSIR-OPRI disease resistance leadership), regulatory authorities (TCDA value chain coordination), universities (KNUST and UG waste valorization focus), farmer associations (COFAG/CoSNAG representing community interests), and innovative private sector (Melach pioneer export-oriented processing). This framework supports Ghana's transformation toward USD 700M+ coconut export industry by 2030 through sustained collaboration between national and international partners (CIRAD, Bioversity International, World Bank, AFD, EU) while managing endemic Cape St Paul Wilt Disease.

  • CSIR-Oil Palm Research Institute (CSIR-OPRI) - Coconut Research Programme: Established 1964, operates Sekondi-Takoradi Western Region outstation; primary mandate for sustainable coconut research including Cape St Paul Wilt Disease resistance breeding, variety screening (MYD x VTT hybrid, SGD x VTT), diagnostic assays development, and integrated pest management; collaborates with CIRAD, Bioversity International, EU TropicSafe Project, and AFD-funded CSDP (1999-2005).​
  • Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA): Established 2019 (officially inaugurated 2020); headquarters Kumasi; regulates and develops sustainable production of six tree crops including coconut; implementing Ghana Tree Crop Diversification Project (P180060, 2024-2029, USD 200M World Bank); projected revenue target USD 2 billion annually in coconut exports through technical advice, capacity building, nursery protocols, and value chain diversification.​
  • Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST): Located Kumasi; research focus on coconut waste valorization (shells for bio-briquettes, activated charcoal, building materials), emissions analysis, and intercropping systems; developed eco-friendly materials and showed 62% diesel fuel consumption reduction potential from coconut husk; established nutrient status assessment identifying leaf K as limiting factor for nut yield.​
  • University of Ghana (UG) - Department of Materials Science and Engineering: Located Legon; research on coconut waste valorization, bio-briquette production, sustainable energy solutions, and characterization of coconut-based materials; studies show effective utilization potential of 18 tonnes daily coconut waste in municipalities; collaborates with Academic City University College on waste-to-energy research.​
  • CSIR-Food Research Institute (CSIR-FRI): Located Accra; established 1968 as part of CSIR system; provides certified analytical testing, food processing technical support, and quality assurance for coconut-based products; develops processing technology for coconut and cassava-coconut intercrop systems; training programs across six regions (Volta, Ashanti, Eastern, Central, Greater Accra, Western).​
  • Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA): Located Accra; promotes coconut exports and nationwide production increase through seedling distribution (160,000 seedlings to COFAG), trader certification, export registration; facilitates market access and innovation support; CEO Ms. Afua Asabea Asare leads commitment to support industry development with target to exceed USD 700M coconut exports by 2030.​
  • Coconut Farmers Association of Ghana (COFAG): National organization with regional branches (Volta, Ashanti, Western, Eastern, Central, Greater Accra) representing coconut farmer interests; advocacy for CSPWD management, technical advice provision, seedling distribution coordination, and farmer training; founded 2006 (advocacy), formalized 2015; primary membership base includes village and community branches.​​
  • Coconut Seed Gardeners and Nursery Operators Association of Ghana (CoSNAG): National association formalized 2020s; membership includes 10+ registered operators (African Coconut Group, Green Coast Group and Consult Ltd, Sahmen Glory, Ahenfohene Farms, Owusu John 74, AgriCoco Limited, Adehyeman Farms, Food Factory, EagleLion, Food Advancement Ghana) regulating quality seedling production and nursery operations across regions with technical standards enforcement.

Review of research and development projects

Since 1950, total documented investment in Ghana coconut R&D exceeds USD 240 million, with major emphasis on disease resistance breeding against Cape St Paul Wilt Disease (CSPWD), variety improvement, replanting programs, and value chain development. Key funders include World Bank/IDA (USD 150M+), Ghana Government (USD 50M+), AFD (EUR 7.2M), EU (STD3 program), France (bilateral cooperation), and Ghana Exim Bank (GH¢ 30M). Primary implementing agencies: CSIR-Oil Palm Research Institute (OPRI), Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA), with technical support from CIRAD, Bioversity International, and regional research networks. Major trial sites concentrated in Western Region (Cape Three Points, Tumentu, Nkroful, Anwea) and Volta Region (Dzelukope, Tegbi, Ohawu, Cape St. Paul), with additional sites in Central Region (Asebu).

  • 2024-2029 - Ghana Tree Crop Diversification Project (P180060): Total budget USD 200M (World Bank/IDA USD 150M; Government of Ghana USD 50M); implemented by Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) and Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) in collaboration with CSIR-Oil Palm Research Institute (OPRI), Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG), and Crop Research Institute; approved June 23, 2023, became effective March 2024; targets 12,800 cocoa farmers and 39,975 cashew, coconut, and rubber farmers across 11 districts in 6 regions (Western North, Eastern, Savanna, Bono, Bono East, Eastern); supports demand-driven research, productivity enhancement, climate resilience, post-harvest management, value addition, and market access for coconut among other tree crops; aims to create 20,000 jobs and support 185 SMEs (60% female-owned) in value addition.​
  • 2025-ongoing - Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness (PIAA) - Coconut Seedling Distribution Program: Funded by Ghana Exim Bank; implemented by PIAA directorate at Office of the President in partnership with Coconut Federation of Ghana; distribution of 3 million coconut seedlings to expand Ghana's coconut industry; aims to exceed USD 700M in exports by 2030 and create 100,000+ direct and indirect jobs; registration portal launched September 2025.​
  • 2022-ongoing - Ghana Exim Bank "Coconut for Life" Project: Total budget GH¢ 30 million; implemented by Ghana Export-Import Bank; produces 50,000 to 1 million nuts of Sri Lankan Green Dwarf crossed to Vanuatu Tall (SGD x VTT) hybrid variety over five years; launched August 2022 to increase Ghana's coconut production.​
  • 2017-2020 - TropicSafe Project - Coconut Component: EU H2020-funded project (project code not specified in available documents); implemented by CSIR-Oil Palm Research Institute (OPRI) in collaboration with international partners; investigated genetic variability of CSPWD phytoplasma, developed diagnostic assays for new strains, assessed presence of secondary plant hosts in disease cycle, and evaluated agronomic performance of promising coconut varieties in field conditions at Anwea disease endemic area in Western Region.​
  • 1999-2005 - Coconut Sector Development Programme (CSDP): Total budget EUR 7.2 million; funded by Agence Française de Développement (AFD); implemented by Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) in collaboration with CIRAD and CSIR-OPRI; promoted replanting with disease-tolerant varieties (MYD x VTT hybrid) in zones devastated by Cape St Paul Wilt Disease; rehabilitated over 1,200 ha of plantations with yields increased by 50-200%; improved traditional oil processing technology for women processors; established sanitary cordon in far Western Region near Ivorian border through early felling of diseased palms.​
  • 1995-2000 - EC-STD III Coconut Resistance Trials: Funded by European Commission STD3 Project; implemented by CSIR-Oil Palm Research Institute (CSIR-OPRI); planted two resistance screening trials in 1995: (1) Tumentu site (5°13'0"N, 2°11'0"W / 5.217°N, 2.183°W) with 11 varieties, and (2) Cape Three Points site (4°44'38"N, 2°05'20"W / 4.744°N, 2.089°W) with 8 varieties, both in Western Region; Cape Three Points site affected by disease after 9 years exposure, Tumentu remained disease-free after 13 years; budget not specified in available documents.​
  • 1993-1997 - EU STD3 Project - Coconut Component: Funded by European Union STD 3 program; implemented by CSIR-OPRI in collaboration with CIRAD; continued resistance screening and vector transmission studies on Cape St Paul Wilt Disease; conducted large-scale field studies on Myndus adiopodoumeensis Synave (Cixiidae) planthopper vector; budget not specified.​
  • 1981-1990 - France-Ghana-Ivory Coast Coconut Project: Funded by Government of France; implemented by Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with West African Institute for Oil Palm Research (WAIFOR); established seven (7) resistance screening trials between 1981-1983 in Western Region testing 27 coconut varieties in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD); trial sites located in Western Region coastal belt; varieties included Sri Lanka Green Dwarf (SGD), Vanuatu Tall (VTT), Malayan Yellow Dwarf (MYD), West African Tall (WAT), and international collection materials; more concerted resistance screening effort continued through 1990; specific trial site coordinates not disclosed in available documents but situated in Cape St Paul Wilt Disease endemic coastal zone of Western Region; project also supported coconut breeding work in Ivory Coast and contributed to regional disease management strategy development; specific budget not disclosed.​
  • 1970s - Ghana Government Coconut Development Programs: Funded by Government of Ghana; implemented by Ministry of Agriculture and State Farms Corporation; public and private investment in coconut cultivation as part of broader agricultural diversification; coconut production grew at approximately 1.5% annually between 1970-1974; production increased from 11,000 tons (1970) to 36,000 tons (estimated 1976); public sector responsible for majority of investment; specific coconut budget not separated from broader agricultural programs.​
  • 1966-1969 - Dzelukope Resistance Screening Trials: Funded by Government of Ghana; implemented by Department of Agriculture; resistance screening trial established at Dzelukope (5°53'0"N, 0°59'0"E / 5.883°N, 0.983°E), Volta Region near Keta; all test varieties including progenies from LY-resistant mother palms succumbed to CSPWD; confirmed severity of disease in Volta Region endemic zone.​
  • 1956-1980 - Initial Cape St Paul Wilt Disease Resistance Screening Program: Funded by Ghana Government; implemented by Ministry of Agriculture and later West African Institute for Oil Palm Research (WAIFOR); resistance screening commenced in 1956 following conclusion that searching for resistant coconut varieties was best disease management option; Department of Agriculture established trials at four sites in Volta Region: (1) Ohawu, (2) Dzelukope (5°53'0"N, 0°59'0"E), (3) Tegbi, and (4) Cape St. Paul (5°49'37"N, 0°58'16"E / 5.827°N, 0.971°E) in Keta area, Volta Region; more than 38 varieties screened for CSPWD resistance from 1956 onwards; 1966-1969 additional trial established at Dzelukope; 1977 trial at Cape Three Points (4°44'38"N, 2°05'20"W); established foundation for all subsequent resistance breeding programs.​
  • 1890 - Governor William Brandford-Griffith and Dr. John Farrell Easmon founded Aburi Botanical Gardens in March 1890 (64.8 hectares, Eastern Region) with William Crowther from Kew Gardens as first curator; the gardens distributed coconuts alongside cocoa, rubber, kola, coffee, raffia, cotton, bananas, tobacco, and castor oil as economic plants to teach "natives the most approved methods of planting"; Tetteh Quarshie's experimental farm at Mampong-Akuapem (visited 1890 by Aburi's first curator) had 300 coconut trees aged 2-4 years alongside his famous cocoa introduction from Fernando Po (1879); Governor Griffith established coconut nurseries throughout Gold Coast colony to encourage coconut cultivation as "legitimate" commodity replacing slave trade products.​
  • 1815 - Coconuts were introduced to West Africa, including the Gold Coast (Ghana), by Portuguese colonial seafarers in the 16th century via Cape Verde Islands (Portuguese introduced coconuts there in 1499), which supplied the Atlantic coasts and West African coast; Dutch sources mention coconut cultivation at Elmina as early as 1815 in a Dutch book published that year, suggesting coconuts were present at this major Portuguese (1482-1637) then Dutch (1637-1872) trading post.
Field mission carried out in 2000 and related publications

A mission was conducted by R. Bourdeix in January 2000 to study seednut production and the breeding aspects of the project “Coconut Sector Development Project in Ghana.” This new project is implemented under the supervision of the Ghana Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA). Its budget amounts to about 34 million French Francs, of which 77 % is financed by the French Government (through the Agence Française de Coopération), 12 % by Ghanaian farmers, 9 % by the European Union, and 2 % by the Government of Ghana. Ghanaian coconut plantations cover approximately 40,000 hectares, distributed within the Central Region (10 %) and the Western Region (90 %). The Cape St. Paul lethal yellowing disease has so far destroyed at least 4,000 hectares. Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL), a private Ghanaian company, was chosen to lead the project. Frédéric Lefebvre serves as project manager. The applied research programme is being carried out jointly by OPRI (Oil Palm Research Institute of Ghana) and the Coconut Research Program of CIRAD, France.

The three main components of the project are as follows: 1) Intensification of 2,000 hectares of existing coconut plantations, where an increase of 40 to 50 fruits per palm per year is expected. 2) The improvement of small-scale coconut oil processing. 3) The replanting of 1,200 hectares with coconut cultivars tolerant to the disease.

The Aiyinasii Seed Garden produces the hybrid between Malayan Yellow Dwarf (MYD) and Vanuatu Tall (VTT). Later, the hybrid between Sri Lanka Green Dwarf (PGD) and VTT will also be produced in Ghana, as PGD has shown better tolerance to the disease than MYD in this country. The choice of the site for a new seed garden, including MYD, SGD, and VTT cultivars, was discussed. At the Aiyinasii Seed Garden, seednut production in 1999 was low, and the illegitimacy rate was quite high. However, the production estimate for the year 2000 is much more optimistic: about 150,000 seednuts are expected, which is sufficient to reach the annual target of the project. This corresponds to 89 seednuts per palm within a six-month production period—better than the standard. The nursery visit showed that the illegitimacy rate had been over-estimated. Recommendations were made to improve seed production techniques.

A solution was proposed to use the 16 VTT palms remaining in the disease-resistance trials. These palms can be used to produce some VTT pollen and seednuts locally. At the same time, they can serve to establish a new and promising breeding experiment at low cost (as it will be located within the seed garden). This experiment will be a full diallel design involving eight VTT palms. The assistance of the Côte d’Ivoire International Germplasm Bank will again be required to provide VTT pollen and seednuts, and also to extend the range of cultivars tested for disease resistance.

References

Lutte contre la maladie du jaunissement mortel au Ghana : research of resistant varieties among thirty coconut varieties (Cocos nucisfera L.). Konan Konan Jean Louis, Allou Kouassi, Dery Sylvester Kuuna, Bourdeix Roland, Zakra A.N.. 2008. In : International Workshop on Lethal Yellowing Diseases on Coconut, Ghana, Accra, 3-6 June 2008. FARA, CIRAD, France-MAE, CSIR. Accra : CIRAD, 254-259. International Workshop on Lethal Yellowing Disease on Coconut, Accra, Ghana, 3 Juin 2008/6 Juin 2008.


Coconut genetic resources and their utilization at the IDEFOR/DPO Marc Delorme station (Côte d'Ivoire). N'Cho Yavo Pierre, Sangaré A., Bourdeix Roland. 1997. In : International workshop on lethal yellowing-like diseases of coconut. Eden Green S.J. (ed.), Ofori F. (ed.). NRI, Ghana-Ministry of Food and Agriculture, OPRI. Chatham : NRI, 153-162. ISBN 0-85954-488-5 International Workshop on Lethal Yellowing Like Diseases of Coconut, Elmina, Ghana, 6 Novembre 1995/10 Novembre 1995








DPP-Ghana-e R. Bourdeix