Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has announced plans to develop a high-yield tomato variety to help bridge the country’s significant production gap.
Addressing Parliament, he revealed that Ghana faces a shortfall of approximately 300,000 metric tonnes in tomato production, highlighting the urgent need for effective solutions.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament, the Minister attributed the low productivity to the seed varieties currently in use, noting that Ghana records an average yield of about eight tonnes per hectare, compared to 18 tonnes in neighbouring Burkina Faso.
To address this, the Ministry has partnered with WAKI Farms in Lagos and several research institutions to develop a new tomato variety capable of yielding more than 20 tonnes per hectare.
According to Mr Opoku, resources have already been committed to ensure the success of the project, with partners expressing confidence in its potential to provide a lasting solution to Ghana’s tomato production challenges.
“The assurance from our partners is that this new variety can produce more than 20 tonnes per hectare, so we are committed to ensuring its development to address the problem,” he said.
The initiative is expected to boost local production, reduce reliance on imports and help close the country’s tomato supply gap, with broader benefits for the agricultural sector and the economy.
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Source:
www.gbcghanaonline.com