The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) has signed a partnership with FarmMate Limited to expand domestic tomato production and reduce reliance on imports.
The agreement, signed on Thursday in Accra, sets out a public-private partnership under which the government would provide policy support and coordination, while FarmMate would oversee production, processing and value chain operations.
The initiative would scale up tomato cultivation from about 1,000 acres currently managed by the company to 40,000 acres nationwide.
FarmMate would be expected to produce 400,000 tons of fresh tomatoes each year, supported by processing facilities with a capacity of 20 tons per hour and an annual output of 200,000 tons of tomato puree.
The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mr Eric Opoku, said the programme would help reduce the country’s dependence on imported tomatoes and bring stability to the local market, adding that it would also tackle post-harvest losses, estimated at 30 per cent, while providing a reliable market for farmers to encourage increased production.
He noted that the programme would help reduce import volumes, limit price fluctuations, cut losses during peak harvest periods and improve availability during lean seasons, adding that the project would support tens of thousands of farmers and create more than 300,000 jobs across the value chain, with opportunities for young people.
He indicated that it would improve incomes and productivity for farmers and ensure a steady supply for traders, processors and consumers. The minister urged households and educational institutions, particularly secondary schools, to take up backyard gardening to support vegetable consumption and help ease price pressures.
The Chief Executive Officer of FarmMate Limited, Mr Sena Amevor, said Ghana spends about 500 million dollars annually on tomato imports, hence the country faces a supply gap of nearly one million tons during the lean season between December and July, and about 150,000 tons are lost during peak periods due to limited processing and storage.
According to him, the company has, since 2021, implemented an out-grower model across more than 60 farming communities, integrating production, processing and distribution to maintain supply throughout the year.
He noted that under the new arrangement, FarmMate and its partners would expand operations, with processing facilities expected to handle up to 480 tons per day and produce about 200,000 tons of tomato puree annually.
Irene Wirekoaa Osei, ISD
