The Government of Ghana has renewed its focus on strengthening local tomato production, with fresh efforts underway to reposition the Tuba Irrigation Scheme as a major hub for vegetable cultivation.
Leading the initiative, Dr. Peter Otokunor Boamah, Director of Agribusiness Development at the Office of the President, headed a delegation to engage tomato and vegetable farmers at the facility.
The delegation, which included officials from the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority, met with members of the Tuba Water Users Association to outline government plans aimed at transforming the irrigation scheme into a key production center for tomatoes.
Central to the discussions was the government’s decision to dedicate the irrigation site primarily to tomato farming. The move forms part of a broader strategy to boost domestic production and reduce dependence on imports, particularly following the recent ban on tomato imports from Burkina Faso.
According to Dr. Boamah, the initiative aligns with Ghana’s import substitution agenda and is designed to strengthen the country’s agricultural value chain while improving food security.
Farmers welcomed the intervention and engaged officials on practical steps needed to enhance productivity. Key issues discussed included improving irrigation efficiency, increasing yields, and addressing long-standing challenges affecting vegetable farming in the area.
Government officials expressed confidence that optimizing the Tuba irrigation facility for large-scale tomato production will help stabilise market prices, reduce supply gaps, and create new opportunities across the agribusiness sector.
The engagement forms part of a series of stakeholder consultations aimed at ensuring the effective implementation of policies to drive agricultural growth and sustainability in Ghana.