FARM-MOFA PARTNERSHIP TARGETS TOMATO SELF-SUFFICIENCY WITH MASSIVE PPP EXPANSION

Accra, April 20, – FarmMate Limited, an agricultural services company, and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) have signed a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement aimed at boosting tomato production and strengthening Ghana’s vegetable value chain.

A statement from FarmMate Limited, copied to the press,  said the initiative is designed to drive tomato self-sufficiency through a private sector-led model, with government providing regulatory and enabling support.

Under the programme, tomato cultivation is expected to expand through an out-grower scheme covering about 40,000 acres, with projected annual output of around 400,000 metric tonnes of fresh tomatoes.

The project also includes the establishment of processing facilities with a combined capacity of 480 metric tonnes per day, which are expected to produce about 200,000 metric tonnes of tomato puree annually.

According to the statement, the intervention is aimed at stabilising supply throughout the year and creating a more predictable market environment for farmers and processors.

It added that post-harvest infrastructure such as packhouses, pre-processing centres and logistics hubs will be deployed to improve storage, handling and distribution.

The initiative is projected to generate over 300,000 direct and indirect jobs across production, aggregation, logistics, processing and distribution.

Ghana’s annual tomato demand is estimated at about 805,000 metric tonnes, while current production stands at roughly 510,000 metric tonnes, leaving a significant supply gap that is often filled through imports.

The statement noted that the country also continues to suffer high post-harvest losses during peak production seasons.

Through a structured guaranteed off-take system, farmers are expected to benefit from assured markets, improved income stability and increased productivity.

FarmMate has called on farmers, processors, financiers and development partners to support the initiative as it scales across the value chain.

GHBUSS

20 April 2026