The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) and the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), in collaboration with the Ghana Exim Bank, have partnered with Central Citrus Processing Limited (CCPL) to revitalize Ghana’s citrus industry.
This initiative aims to restore over 75,000 hectares of abandoned citrus farms in the Central Region, particularly in Cape Coast, through financial and developmental support.
CCPL, the third-largest citrus processing plant in Africa, is expected to generate GHC 600 million in revenue after four years of operations. The plant has the capacity to process over 15 tons of oranges into fruit juice per hour and has established a partnership with Ekumfi Juices and Processing Factory to further boost Ghana’s natural fruit juice production.
This partnership will benefit over 3,000 farmers across three districts, including the AAK district, and provide opportunities for 5,000 youth and women. In addition to citrus, new crop varieties like pisie oranges and passion fruit are being introduced to improve farmer income and support the cultivation process.
The initiative is poised to create over 20,000 sustainable jobs along the citrus value chain and reduce Ghana’s fruit juice imports, currently valued at $200 million annually. CCPL will also become the first and largest passion fruit processing plant in Africa, sourcing directly from Ekumfi Fruits and Juices Factory to blend tropical varieties, enhancing the flavor of Ghana’s fruit juices.
The venture addresses challenges such as low revenue, insect infestations, and plant diseases that have caused many citrus farmers to abandon their farms. Financial support from ADB will improve the quality of citrus production, providing sustainable income for all actors in the citrus value chain.
Citrus fruits, renowned for their nutritional benefits, will now play a key role in boosting the economy while contributing to healthy diets rich in essential vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber.
