The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon.Eric Opoku (MP), has officially launched a major initiative to bolster local tomato production in Ghana.
The Phase 1 of the initiative, according to the Minister, was to make tomatoes available in local Ghanaian markets at affordable prices and also feed local industries.
Speaking to the chiefs and partners of the programme at the event at Anloga on Tuesday,September 15, 2026, Mr Opoku assured that the project in partnership with Farmmate Ghana Limited, would drastically reduce the national tomato importation bill and foster sustainable agricultural transformation in the country.
He emphasised that the core strategic goal of the programme, ‘Ghana Tomato-Suffiiciency Initiative (GHATSI) would tackle import Substitution thus “moving the country from reliance on imports to sustainable local production and strengthen economic empowerment.”
The programme will, among other things, improve the livelihoods of local farmers and create “widespread employment.”
Under the programme, the Minister said, it would enhance value addition through investment in processing capacity to move beyond raw output and increase the market value of produce.
The first phase which is the 2026 – 2027 season, is expected to have a viable target of an initial production of 100,000 tonnes across 10,000 hectares, with a long-term goal of reaching 400,000 tonnes annually and beyond in various districts of the country.
This is one of the measures the government has adopted to strengthen private participation to boost the production of the vegetable in various farming enclaves to not only boost its production locally but to also ensure the availability of the commodity at all times for Ghanaians’ consumption.
The event was attended by the Deputy Minister of Agric, Hon. John Dumelo (MP), the Volta Regional Minister, Hon James Gunu, partners of GHATSI and traditional leaders of the area.
When successful, the GHATSI will help reduce pressures on foreign currencies and help stabilise the Ghana Cedi for economic growth through local tomato production spearheaded by small holder farmers and large scale farmers alike.
Few months ago, the Ministry distributed special seeds to various farmer groups including and assisted them with training to boost tomato production to avert the yearly scarcity that escalate prices to the detriment of the Ghanaian people.
By Henryson Okrah/Myxyzonline.com
