By Evans Worlanyo Ameamu, GNA
Anloga (VR), Sept. 15, GNA – Mr James Gunu, the Volta Regional Minister, has commended the government for rolling out the Ghana Tomatoes Self-Sufficiency Initiative (GHATSI).
He described the move as a timely intervention that would transform tomato farming into a more profitable and predictable venture for farmers in the region and the country at large.
At the national launch of the initiative at the Anseco Park at Anloga, Mr Gunu noted that the programme formed part of broader government efforts to boost local agricultural production and reduce the country’s dependence on imported food products, particularly tomatoes and tomato-based products.
“Let me commend President John Dramani Mahama and the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Eric Opoku, for the significant investment in the agricultural sector in the Volta Region, the distribution of over 20,000 bags of fertiliser to farmers in the region, last year, as well as 1,500 bags supplied to each of the 18 District Assemblies, this year,” he said.
The Regional Minister disclosed that the region had also received 180,000 birds under a separate poultry support programme under the “Feed Ghana” initiative, and the investment was a clear demonstration of government’s commitment to agricultural development in the Volta Region.
Mr Gunu revealed that out of ten Farmer Service Centres being constructed nationwide this year, the Volta Region alone is benefiting from two, which reflected the priority government had placed on the agricultural potential of the area.
“On irrigation infrastructure, the Minister announced that government is working on two new irrigation dams for the region, to be sited at Have and Kpando Aziave, this is assurance that the Ministry of Food and Agriculture had committed to rehabilitating 22 existing but deteriorating irrigation dams across the region beginning next year.”
Touching on the rationale behind GHATSI, Mr Gunu referenced recent reports that Burkina Faso had suspended tomato imports from Ghana and stated that the development was a small challenge with greater opportunities that reinforced the urgent need for the country to attain self-sufficiency in tomato production.
He noted that Ghana possessed the requisite land, water resources, favourable climate and a hardworking farming population to meet the nation’s tomato needs yet continued to spend hundreds of millions of dollars annually on tomato imports, a trend that GHATSI sought to reverse.
The Regional Minister highlighted Anloga, Keta, Akatsi North and Agotime Ziope as key tomato-producing areas within the Volta Region and expressed confidence that the region could make a major contribution to the national self-sufficiency drive under the initiative.
He welcomed the programme’s focus on irrigation support, improved farm inputs, technical assistance, financing, insurance and guaranteed offtake arrangements for farmers, stating that these components would make tomato farming a more secure and attractive venture for both existing and prospective farmers.
Mr Gunu appealed to the sector minister for the expansion of GHATSI to cover more tomato-growing communities across the region and called for the establishment of a tomato processing facility in the Volta Region, to help reduce post-harvest losses, create jobs, and ensure farmers derive greater value from their produce.
He said the Volta Region was ready to collaborate with the government, farmer groups and other stakeholders to make the initiative a success, while urging farmers to take advantage of the support systems being rolled out to boost local production, create employment, and position the country to export its surplus tomato produce.
Various farmer unions in the area expressed appreciation and excitement over the exercise and called for collaborative efforts from the government and various individual stakeholders for a successful initiative.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/ Christabel Addo