The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) has launched a large-scale agroforestry intervention with the distribution of 1,260,482 economic tree seedlings to farmers across the Bono, Bono East, and Savannah Regions as part of efforts to promote climate-resilient agriculture and restore degraded farmlands.
The seedlings—comprising moringa, cashew, and mango varieties—are expected to be distributed as follows: 511,823 to Bono Region, 352,135 to Bono East, and 396,524 to Savannah Region.
At a distribution ceremony held in Nkoranza in the Bono East Region, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mr Eric Opoku, encouraged farmers to take full ownership of the initiative by planting and nurturing the seedlings to maximise long-term environmental and economic benefits.
He explained that the intervention forms part of government’s broader push to integrate agroforestry into mainstream farming systems as a way of improving soil fertility, reducing erosion, and strengthening food security.
According to him, the programme is being implemented under Phase II of the Changing Lives Transformation Fund (CLTF) Agroforestry Carbon Credit Programme, which targets the middle belt and northern savannah zones.
Mr Opoku described the initiative as more than a distribution exercise, stressing that it represents a strategic investment in farmers’ livelihoods, rural incomes, nutrition, and climate resilience.
He noted that government, under the Feed Ghana Programme and the Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda, remains focused on making agriculture more productive, profitable, and attractive to women and young people.
The Minister further cautioned that climate change is already affecting rainfall patterns, crop yields, and soil conditions, making climate-smart interventions like agroforestry urgent and necessary.
He also called for stronger collaboration with development partners, stating that tackling food insecurity, land degradation, and rural poverty requires shared responsibility and sustained investment.
“Provision of these improved planting materials is not just a donation of seedlings, but an investment in climate resilience, local economies, and future livelihoods,” he said.
The Deputy Country Director of the World Food Programme, Madam Anitha Narahari, said the programme aims to strengthen food systems and build long-term resilience among smallholder farmers.
She disclosed that over 7,000 additional farmers will benefit in this phase, with more than three million mango, cashew, and moringa seedlings expected to be distributed overall.
According to her, the initiative is particularly targeted at maize farmers who are highly exposed to climate shocks such as erratic rainfall and declining soil fertility.
She added that the agroforestry model will help farmers diversify incomes, restore degraded lands, and create new livelihood opportunities while improving environmental sustainability.
The WFP, she assured, remains committed to supporting long-term, innovative agricultural interventions that strengthen resilience and economic stability for vulnerable farming communities.
