The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has announced plans to introduce a pension arrangement for farmers participating in the Ghana Tomato Self-Sufficiency Initiative (GHATSI).
The Minister made the announcement during the launch of GHATSI at Anloga in the Volta Region.
The initiative, led by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in partnership with FarmMate Ltd, is aimed at developing a reliable, year-round and integrated domestic tomato value chain that can progressively meet Ghana’s demand, reduce dependence on imports and eventually create a surplus for export.
Speaking at the launch, Opoku said farmers, despite their significant contribution to the economy and food security, have traditionally had limited access to pension benefits available to workers in other sectors.
He noted that the agricultural sector employs more than one-third of the country’s working population, making it important to establish mechanisms that provide farmers with financial security beyond their active working years.
Under the proposed arrangement, a small, agreed percentage of a farmer’s income will be set aside in a pension fund after produce has been purchased and payment has been made.
“This will provide farmers with a measure of income security when they reach a stage at which they no longer have the strength to remain actively engaged in farming,” the Minister said.
He added that farmers deserved not only the support needed to produce today but also dignity and financial security in retirement.
Opoku also disclosed that Pan-African Savings and Loans, a subsidiary of the Ecobank Group, is working directly with farmers in production communities to provide financing under the initiative.
He said the financing would help address challenges farmers face in accessing capital for production.
“The current farmer enhancement package is estimated at approximately GH¢20,000 per acre. It covers inputs, land preparation, soil testing, technical assistance, insurance and other production requirements,” he said.
To improve extension services, the Minister explained that part of the financial package would support agricultural extension delivery. This would enable Agricultural Extension Officers to work closely with participating farmers, provide regular technical guidance and promote scientific and commercially oriented farming practices.
He stressed that the programme was not a free input distribution scheme but a productive input-credit financing arrangement designed to ensure that capable farmers are not prevented from producing because they lack the necessary capital at the beginning of the farming season.
Under the arrangement, the financing obligation will be settled through a structured off-take system after the farmers harvest their produce.
The government expects the initiative to strengthen domestic tomato production, improve farmers’ access to finance and markets, and contribute to reducing Ghana’s dependence on imported tomatoes.
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