The Ministry of Food and Agriculture, in partnership with FarmMate Ltd, is set to launch the Ghana Tomato Self-Sufficiency Initiative (GHATSI) as part of efforts to address the country’s recurring tomato shortage and reduce dependence on imports.
The initiative will be officially launched on 15 September 2026 at the Anlo Senior High School Park (ANSECO) in Anloga, Volta Region, at 10:00 a.m.
The launch will be led by the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku, and will bring together government officials, regional authorities, traditional leaders, farmers, financial institutions, insurers, technical partners and the media.
GHATSI is a national public-private partnership (PPP) designed to move Ghana towards reliable, year-round tomato self-sufficiency by developing an integrated domestic tomato value chain.
Despite Ghana’s favourable land, water and climatic conditions for tomato production, the country reportedly spends more than US$400 million annually on fresh tomato and tomato paste imports, largely due to supply shortages during the December-to-July off-season.
According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, GHATSI seeks to address this challenge by connecting farmers and available land to increased production, structured financing, multi-peril crop insurance, aggregation, industrial processing and guaranteed market access.
The initiative is expected to reduce tomato import dependence while improving the stability of domestic supply and farmer incomes through contract farming.
It also aims to create sustainable employment opportunities for young people across the tomato value chain, reduce post-harvest losses and protect farmers against climate-related and pest risks.
Under the full rollout, GHATSI targets annual national tomato production of 400,000 tonnes, beginning with an initial supply target of approximately 100,000 tonnes during the 2026/2027 production cycle.
The first phase will cover more than 10,000 acres across 40 districts, 12 regions and over 100 communities. The production base is expected to expand progressively towards the initiative’s 400,000-tonne annual target.
As part of the Farmer Enhancement Package, participating farmers will receive financed agro-inputs, irrigation support, extension and technical services, as well as multi-peril crop insurance.
The financing arrangements will allow farmers to repay the cost of the support directly at the point of produce off-take.
The initiative is expected to strengthen Ghana’s domestic tomato value chain while creating stronger links between farmers, financial institutions, insurers, processors and markets.
GHATSI forms part of broader efforts to increase local agricultural production, improve food security, strengthen farmer livelihoods and reduce Ghana’s reliance on imported agricultural products.
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