The Jute Value Chain Initiative is a strategic intervention focused on promoting large-scale cultivation of kenaf, a fast-growing fibrous plant, to support the local production of jute sacks and significantly reduce Ghana’s heavy dependence on imported packaging materials. Currently, the country imports over 60 million jute sacks annually, primarily for the storage and export of key commodities such as cocoa, cashew, and grains. This initiative seeks to reverse that trend by developing a homegrown kenaf industry capable of sustainably supplying domestic jute-processing factories.

The initiative will drive kenaf cultivation across suitable agro-ecological zones, particularly in the northern, transitional, and parts of the Volta regions, by supporting both smallholder and commercial farmers with improved kenaf seed varieties, agronomic training, and access to inputs. It also aims to revive and expand the capacity of local jute-processing companies.