The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has expressed confidence that Ghana will significantly reduce its dependence on imported tomatoes within the next three to four months as the government rolls out major interventions to boost local production.
Speaking at a public sitting of Parliament’s Government Assurances Committee on Thursday, the minister said the Ministry of Food and Agriculture is implementing a comprehensive programme aimed at increasing tomato production, improving irrigation and providing farmers with the infrastructure needed to produce throughout the year.
The Committee’s sittings follow up on responses provided by Ministers to Parliamentary questions and to give updates on assurances they gave the House.
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The government, Mr. Eric Opoku said, is determined to reverse the country’s reliance on imported tomatoes and expects the impact of the ongoing interventions to become evident within months.
“We are putting in place a lot of measures. Within the next three to four months, the results will be there for Ghanaians to see. We are anticipating an abundance of tomatoes on the Ghanaian market, and we are also making arrangements for processors to purchase directly from our farmers,” he stated.
According to the minister, the interventions include the construction of solar-powered boreholes to provide reliable irrigation for farming communities across the country.
He explained that the ministry is drilling boreholes, installing solar-powered pumping systems, and supplying water directly to farms to ensure year-round cultivation.
“In areas where we anticipate livestock intrusion, we are also providing fencing to protect farmlands so farmers can produce without disruption,” he added.
Mr. Opoku revealed that irrigation projects are currently underway in several farming communities, including Afife, Asutsuare, Nkwabeng in the Nkwanta area, and other parts of the country.
He disclosed that one of the irrigation projects covers about 60 hectares, with additional sites expected to benefit as the programme expands.
The minister said Members of Parliament have been invited to engage with the ministry to identify beneficiary communities within their constituencies and ensure more farmers take advantage of the initiative.
He disclosed that President John Dramani Mahama has taken a personal interest in the programme and has directed the ministry to work towards ending the country’s dependence on imported tomatoes.
“The President has a special interest in this and wants us to bring an end to tomato importation into this country, and we are committed to achieving that,” he said.
Responding to concerns raised by a member of the committee over inadequate irrigation facilities in some farming communities, Mr. Opoku assured Parliament that the ministry would assess the situation and consider extending support where needed.
He stressed that the irrigation expansion programme is a national development initiative aimed at improving food security and should not be viewed through a political lens.
“It’s not about politics. It’s about ensuring that our people have access to water for farming so they can produce fresh vegetables and improve their livelihoods,” the minister stated.
He expressed optimism that the government’s interventions would strengthen local tomato production, create new opportunities for farmers and processors, and reduce Ghana’s import bill.