Ghana has launched the first phase of a new tomato production programme designed to expand local cultivation, support farmers and reduce the country’s dependence on imported tomatoes.
The initiative, launched by the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, is being implemented in collaboration with Farmmate Ghana Limited as part of efforts to strengthen the domestic tomato industry.
The first phase will run during the 2026–2027 farming season, with a target of producing 100,000 tonnes of tomatoes from 10,000 hectares of farmland.
The programme is expected to contribute to efforts to reduce Ghana’s tomato import bill by increasing the volume and consistency of locally produced tomatoes available to consumers and processors.
Beyond increasing production, the initiative is structured around three main objectives: import substitution, economic empowerment and value addition.
Through the economic empowerment component, the project will provide opportunities for farmers and other actors in the agricultural value chain, with the expectation of improving incomes and generating additional employment.
The value addition component will focus on expanding tomato processing, enabling more of the crop to be processed locally rather than being sold solely as fresh produce.
The initiative also has a longer-term production ambition, with plans to raise annual output to 400,000 tonnes and beyond across selected districts in the country.
The government expects the expansion of domestic tomato production and processing to strengthen linkages between farmers, processors and markets while creating a more resilient agricultural value chain.
The programme forms part of broader efforts to transform Ghana’s agriculture by increasing domestic food production, improving farmer livelihoods and encouraging investment in agro-processing.
