The Director of Agribusiness Development at the Office of the President, Dr Peter Otokunor Boamah, has led a delegation to engage tomato and vegetable farmers at the Tuba Irrigation Scheme at Weija in the Greater Accra Region as part of efforts to boost local production.

The team, which included officials from the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority, met with members of the Tuba Water Users Association to discuss the government’s plans to reposition the irrigation site as a major hub for tomato cultivation.

The engagement focused on the government’s decision to rededicate the Tuba irrigation facility primarily for tomato production, a move aimed at strengthening local supply and reducing reliance on imports.

Dr. Boamah explained that the initiative forms part of a broader strategy to support Ghana’s tomato import substitution agenda, following the recently announced ban on tomato imports from Burkina Faso.

Farmers at the meeting welcomed the initiative and held discussions with officials on how best to enhance productivity, improve irrigation usage, and address challenges affecting vegetable farming in the area.

The government believes that optimising the Tuba irrigation site for large-scale tomato production will not only boost local agriculture but also stabilise prices and create more opportunities within the agribusiness value chain.

Dr Boamah explained that engagement is part of ongoing consultations with key stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of policies aimed at achieving food security and strengthening Ghana’s agricultural sector.