The Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana (CAG) has unveiled an ambitious 12-month implementation roadmap aimed at transforming Ghana’s tomato sector and achieving year-round food sufficiency, following Burkina Faso’s ban on fresh tomato exports.
The roadmap forms part of the proposed National Tomato Emergency Strategy, a time-bound intervention designed to shift Ghana from heavy reliance on imports to a resilient, locally driven production system within one year.
According to the Chamber, the strategy will be executed in seven sequential phases, each with clear timelines, deliverables, and accountability measures.
Establishment Phase (Days 1–30)
The first phase focuses on laying the legal and financial foundation for the programme. This includes a Presidential declaration of the emergency strategy, the formation of an inter-ministerial coordination committee, and the allocation of GH¢ 430 million in the 2026 Supplementary Budget.
The Grow Ghana Agro-Corporate Partnership Framework (GGACPF) Secretariat is also expected to be set up, with the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre leading investor mobilisation. By the end of this phase, the strategy is expected to be fully mandated and funded.
Assessment Phase (Days 31–60)
Within the next 60 days, technical assessments of major irrigation schemes such as Tono, Vea, and Pwalugu will be completed, alongside evaluations of key tomato processing plants in Pwalugu, Wenchi, and Techiman.
The Chamber also targets the enrolment of 50,000 farmers into cooperatives and the signing of at least 15 anchor corporate investors under the GGACPF. A revised tomato paste tariff regime is also expected to be formalised during this period.
Mobilisation Phase (Months 3–4)
By the third and fourth months, full-scale mobilisation begins. Irrigation rehabilitation works are expected to commence, while 15,000 hectares of drip irrigation systems will be deployed across key production zones.
Farmers will receive certified seeds and fertiliser packages, and contractors will be appointed to rehabilitate processing plants. Agro-financial institutions will also roll out credit support schemes to boost production.
First Harvest Phase (Months 5–6)
The strategy anticipates its first major results within six months, with irrigated dry-season crops reaching harvest.
At least 20 aggregation and cooling centres are expected to be operational, while processing plants will be halfway rehabilitated. This phase is projected to deliver an additional 80,000 to 120,000 metric tonnes of tomatoes, while activating buffer stock systems to stabilise supply.
Processing Phase (Months 7–8)
By the seventh and eighth months, rehabilitated processing plants are expected to come on stream, producing Ghana-made tomato paste for the domestic market.
Cold chain systems linking Tamale to Accra and Techiman to Kumasi will be fully operational, ensuring efficient distribution, while farmer-based organisations continue to expand.
Scale-Up Phase (Months 9–10)
The focus then shifts to expansion, with international development financing from institutions such as IFAD and the African Development Bank expected to be secured.
Three Tomato Agro-Industrial Zones will be established, and private sector participation will be scaled up to 200 corporate partners, positioning Ghana to achieve an annual production trajectory of 300,000 metric tonnes.
Sufficiency Phase (Months 11–12)
By the end of the 12-month period, the Chamber projects that Ghana will achieve full tomato sufficiency, with year-round supply across major markets.
Annual production is expected to exceed 800,000 metric tonnes, while imports of processed tomato paste could decline by up to 40 percent. A strategic buffer stock system will also be maintained to prevent future supply shocks.
The Chamber describes the roadmap as both urgent and achievable, insisting that the Burkina Faso export ban presents a rare opportunity for Ghana to reset its agricultural priorities.
“This is not a long-term aspiration; it is a 12-month mission,” the Chamber emphasised, adding that with the right coordination between government and the private sector, Ghana can build a resilient tomato value chain capable of sustaining national demand.
The roadmap is expected to guide immediate policy decisions and investment actions as the country seeks to turn a regional supply disruption into a catalyst for agricultural transformation.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com