Ghana intends to produce between 200,000 and 300,000 metric tonnes of tomatoes in the next two to three years, focusing on the dry season, in an effort to reduce imports, according to the Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, John Dumelo. Mr Dumelo told Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Wednesday, February 18, that the government is increasing tomato output via irrigation, study, and direct aid to farmers.
“Our yearly demand is nearly 800,000 metric tonnes. And, hopefully, by the conclusion of two to three years, we should be generating around 200,000 to 300,000 metric tonnes, notably during the dry season.” He remarked that Ghana has made numerous efforts throughout the years to achieve tomato self-sufficiency.
“It would be interesting to know that throughout the years, we have attempted several ways to be self-sufficient in tomato production,” he adds. “As we speak, various tomato variations are being tested at various irrigation sites across the country to determine how best to market them.” The deputy minister stated that he would be touring some of these sites to examine progress.
“From tomorrow to Friday, I’ll be visiting some of these irrigation projects to see how far they’ve gone,” he said, noting that harvesting has already begun in some regions. He named particular sites where experiments were taking place.
“When you go to the Ashanti Region, at the Komadan irrigation project, they are conducting some trials there. When you visit the Tono Dam in the north, they are conducting tests with the FSRP.” “When you visit Garu, there is an irrigation facility where they are also growing tomatoes,” he explained. Mr Dumelo noted that the current administration took office last year and is now experiencing its second dry season.
“By the end of this year, when we are approaching the third dry season, I am confident that we will be able to scale up production,” he said. He stated that the initial objective is to reduce tomato imports by 20–30% within two years.
In addition to irrigation, the government provides direct assistance to farmers. According to MrDumelo, certain farmers have been chosen to get solar-powered boreholes, while water pumps have been delivered to a number of farmer groups. He said he recently met with vegetable growers in the Eastern Region and promised them government assistance to encourage dry season output.
When questioned if producing an additional 200,000 metric tonnes in two to three years would make Ghana self-sufficient, Mr Dumelo responded that it would not. He did, however, emphasise that agricultural change takes time.
“If you look at how agriculture works, there are phases of research and development, as well as phases of testing.” “It will take some time,” he told them. He likened the tomato strategy to the government’s poultry policy, which seeks to decrease imports.
“It will take a couple of years for us to reach that point, and the same is true for tomatoes,” he explained. Mr Dumelo was convinced that Ghana will be able to stop tomato imports from neighbouring countries if trials and research continue.
“I can guarantee you that if we continue as we are now in terms of trials and research and everything we are undertaking, I believe that in about five or six years we should stop the complete importation of tomatoes from Burkina Faso and neighbouring countries,” he said.
Source: myjoyonline.com
