By Peter Agengre
A collaboration between the Food System Resilience Project (FSRP) and agribusiness platform FarmMate has begun transforming dry-season tomato production in Ghana’s Upper East Region, recording an output of 240 tonnes so far.
The initiative focuses on revitalising the tomato value chain to ensure year-round availability, particularly during the dry season when production gaps often lead to shortages and rising prices across the country.
Project Officer for FSRP, Dr. Gabriel Owusu, said the intervention was designed to address Ghana’s heavy dependence on imported tomato products during off-season periods.
“For many years, the dry-season production gap has necessitated significant imports of tomato paste and fresh tomatoes,” he explained.
“This project demonstrates that, with the right support, farmers can produce competitively even in the dry season and reduce the country’s reliance on imports,” he concluded.
Dr. Owusu noted that improved agronomic practices, access to inputs, and structured market linkages have been key to the early success recorded in the Upper East Region.
Head of Engagement for FarmMate, Kwame Asante, emphasized the importance of connecting farmers directly to markets and aggregators.
“Our role has been to ensure that farmers are not only producing but also selling at fair and predictable prices,” he said. “By strengthening market access and providing preservation support services, we are helping to stabilize supply and minimize post-harvest losses.”
Supported by the Government of Norway and the World Bank, the initiative ultimately aims to curb nationwide tomato shortages and price fluctuations. Stakeholders believe that scaling up the programme could significantly strengthen Ghana’s tomato value chain, improve farmer incomes, and enhance food security throughout the year.
