By Yussif Ibrahim, GNA
Kumasi, Nov. 05, GNA – The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI) has launched the third phase of the KAFACI Tomato Project at an inception meeting held at the Kwadaso Research Station.
The five-year project (2025-2029) is being implemented by CSIR-CRI in partnership with the government of Korea through the Rural Development Administration (RDA) and the Korea-Africa Food and Agriculture Cooperation Initiative (KAFACI).
It aims to develop and promote heat-tolerant tomato varieties, boost productivity, and improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers amid rising climate challenges.
Dr Ernest Baafi, Deputy Director of CSIR-CRI, speaking at the event, described the project as a significant milestone in bridging Ghana’s tomato demand-supply gap and strengthening rural economies.
He said the initiative aims to boost crop yields, raise farmers’ incomes, and strengthen the competitiveness of Ghana’s tomato industry through the development and promotion of heat-tolerant varieties.
The project builds on the success of two previous KAFACI phases.
Phase One, from 2011 to 2014, earned Ghana early recognition in Korea for leadership in agricultural innovation, unlocking capacity-building opportunities in pest management and farmer training.
Phase Two, spanning 2020 to 2024, saw a Ghanaian project presented in Kenya awarded as the best for its impact.
Dr Michael Kwabena Osei, a Principal Research Scientist and vegetable breeder at CSIR-CRI, reflected on the programme’s journey, noting that the award in the first phase truly opened doors.
According to him, had the team not performed then, these opportunities would not have come their way.
Dr Osei explained that tomato production in Ghana was severely constrained by climate change, low productivity, and limited access to improved varieties, leading to reduced yields, lower profits, and compromised food security.
With an annual administrative budget of $25,000 USD, the project will focus on developing heat-tolerant tomato lines, standardizing cultivation technologies including irrigation, mulching, and organic amendments, and promoting climate-smart practices.
In its first year, activities will include on-farm trials of heat-tolerant tomato lines and inbreds under diverse farming conditions, Distinctness, Uniformity, and Stability (DUS) testing at the research station, and sensory evaluations to assess taste, texture, and appearance.
The initiative also prioritises capacity building for farmers, extension officers, and stakeholders, while establishing a sustainable seed system for the new varieties.
Expected outcomes include improved food security, increased incomes, job creation, better market access, and greater empowerment of women farmers.
“We are confident that, with expertise and commitment, this third phase will deliver remarkable results, especially in releasing new, resilient varieties that transform tomato farming in Ghana,” Dr. Osei stated.
The KAFACI Tomato Project underscores a continued commitment to agricultural innovation, positioning Ghana as a leader in climate-resilient crop development in Africa.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/Linda Asante Agyei