The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) has signed a landmark Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement with FarmMate Limited to drive large-scale tomato production and reduce Ghana’s reliance on imports.
The agreement is expected to significantly strengthen the country’s agricultural value chain, targeting national self-sufficiency in tomato production while expanding processing capacity.
Under the partnership, government will provide policy direction, coordination, and an enabling environment, while FarmMate will spearhead implementation, including large-scale cultivation and value chain operations.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku described the initiative as a “practical and scalable solution” to longstanding challenges in the sector.
“This partnership directly addresses persistent issues such as price volatility, post-harvest losses, and seasonal shortages that have affected tomato production in Ghana for years,” the Minister said.
The project will be rolled out nationwide, covering up to 40,000 acres and targeting the production of 400,000 tons of fresh tomatoes annually. It will be supported by processing facilities with a capacity of 20 tons per hour, expected to yield 200,000 tons of tomato puree each year.
Additional infrastructure including packhouses, pre-processing centres, and logistics hubs will be developed across key agricultural zones, bringing total projected output to approximately 600,000 tons annually.
Beyond production, the initiative is expected to generate wide-ranging socio-economic benefits. Officials estimate it will support tens of thousands of farmers and create over 300,000 jobs across the agricultural value chain, with a strong focus on youth training and apprenticeship programmes.
The agreement also guarantees off-take for farmers, ensuring stable markets and improved incomes while boosting confidence to scale up production.
Founder and CEO of FarmMate Limited, Sena Amevor, expressed optimism about the partnership’s long-term impact.
“Ghana stands as the ultimate beneficiary of this agreement. It will not only enhance local production but also drive meaningful socio-economic growth,” he said.
Officials say the PPP underscores the critical role of collaboration between government and the private sector in transforming agriculture and achieving long-term food security.
Story: Patrick Asford Boadu
