The Government of Ghana has indicated that measures are being put in place to provide solar-powered irrigation facilities during the dry season.
This is in it’s bid to encourage all-year farming in the country.
According to the government some of its warehouses in tomato-growing areas will be converted into cold rooms to store excess tomatoes.
However, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, George Oduro, stated that, the initiative is geared towards ending the excessive importation of tomatoes from Burkina Faso.
He revealed this during his visit to some tomato-growing communities in the Brong Ahafo Region.
His visit also follows a Joy News Documentary, Desert Tomatoes, which highlighted the plight of tomato traders as they journey to Burkina Faso in their quest to get fresh tomatoes for the Ghanaian market.
During the visit, the Minister and his team engaged the leadership of tomato farmers, traders and transporters in Tuobodom and its enclave.
They also met traders from Afrancho, Akomadan, Takyimentia, Takyiman and Bechem, at Derma all known tomato-growing communities in the region.
At all the meetings, the tomato stakeholders corroborated the challenges to tomato farming as revealed in the Joy News documentary.
This included the need for irrigation facilities, improved seeds and storage facilities.
Report by: Stephanie Horsu
