Private Tree Growers to Form Associations to Promote their Interest

They also expressed concern about the long gestation period of trees which requires that tree growers have access to alternative sources of livelihoods while waiting for their trees to mature and problems associated with tree tenure.

Private tree growers include landowners who grow trees on their land for commercial purposes, farmers who grow trees on their own farms in addition to food crops for domestic and commercial purposes and farmers who do not own land but grow trees on land leased to them under a tenancy agreement with landowners.
The concerns were voiced at sensitization meetings on the need for tree grower associations to oversee, monitor and support private tree growers in Ghana. A total of 1,250 people from four communities in the Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo and Central Regions participated in the meetings which constitute preliminary efforts towards the establishment of tree grower associations in Ghana.

The Resource Management Support Centre (RMSC) of the FC organized the meetings and presented the findings at TBI Ghana on August 24, 2015. The process is being carried out as part of activities marking the ‘Piloting of Model Tree Grower Associations’ under the framework of the Landscape Restoration Project (LRP) which is being implemented by TBI Ghana.

The need for tree grower associations has become critical to catering for the needs of private tree growers in Ghana as there are no established support systems to meet their needs; a situation that has forced many private tree growers out of business.

In spite of these setbacks, private tree growers continue to make important contributions to Ghana’s economy. These include the provision of raw materials for the local timber industry, the export market and infrastructural development in addition to generating royalty payments for landowners, private income and funds for community projects.

Private tree growers also render environmental services by increasing the forest cover which in turn facilitates the protection of water bodies, acts as wind breaks and improves soil nutrients in addition to other eco-system services.

The tree growers’ associations are expected to promote private plantation development by assisting its members to acquire land, have access to quality seeds for nursery establishment and technical support to establish and maintain healthy tree plantations in order to attract high prices from both the local and international market.

The associations are also supposed to link tree growers to markets, protect plantations from wildfire, solicit loans for plantation establishment, and also create a social welfare fund for members.