(VIDEO) Tomato Imports Will Soon Be History – Eric Opoku
Agric Minister says government interventions will boost local production, meet domestic demand, and create surplus for export.
- Minister targets tomato self-sufficiency.
- Output expected to rise in months.
- Government expands support for farmers.
Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, says the government is implementing measures to significantly boost local tomato production, with the aim of reducing Ghana’s dependence on imports from neighbouring countries.
Appearing before Parliament’s Government Assurances Committee, the Minister said the government is committed to transforming the country’s tomato sector through targeted interventions designed to increase domestic production.
According to Mr. Opoku, Ghanaians should begin to see a substantial increase in tomato output within the next three to four months, making the crop more readily available on local markets.
He expressed confidence that increased production would not only meet domestic demand but also create a surplus for export to neighbouring countries.
The Minister said the Ministry of Food and Agriculture is working closely with farmers and other stakeholders by improving access to quality seeds, expanding irrigation infrastructure, strengthening agricultural extension services, and promoting modern farming practices to enhance productivity.
Mr. Opoku added that achieving self-sufficiency in tomato production would help stabilise prices, improve farmers’ incomes, strengthen food security, and reduce the need for traders to travel outside Ghana in search of tomatoes.
From Martin Kwabena Ahwireng Quaye
