The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), in partnership with FarmMate Limited, has signed a landmark Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement aimed at achieving national self-sufficiency in tomato production and advancing vegetable development across Ghana.

The agreement marks a major step toward reducing the country’s reliance on imported tomatoes while strengthening local production and processing capacity. Under the partnership, government will provide policy support, coordination, and an enabling environment, while FarmMate will lead implementation, large-scale production, and value chain operations.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, described the initiative as a practical and scalable solution to longstanding challenges in the tomato sector, including price volatility, post-harvest losses, and seasonal shortages.

The project will be implemented on a national scale, covering up to 40,000 acres and targeting the production of 400,000 tons of fresh tomatoes annually. In addition, it will be supported by processing facilities with a capacity of 20 tons per hour, expected to produce 200,000 tons of tomato puree each year.

The initiative will also see the development of packhouses, pre-processing centres, and logistics hubs in key agricultural zones, bringing the total projected output to about 600,000 tons annually.

Beyond production, the partnership is expected to deliver significant socio-economic benefits. It will support tens of thousands of farmers, create over 300,000 jobs across the agricultural value chain, and prioritize youth training and apprenticeship programmes.

The agreement also guarantees off-take for farmers, ensuring stable markets, improved incomes, and increased confidence to expand production. It is further expected to provide consistent and quality supply for traders, processors, and consumers nationwide.

Officials say the PPP demonstrates the potential of collaboration between government and the private sector in transforming Ghana’s agriculture and achieving long-term food security.