Ghana launches GHATSI, targeting 400,000 tonnes of annual tomato output
Ghana has launched the Ghana Tomato Self-Sufficiency Initiative (GHATSI), a public-private programme targeting annual national tomato production of 400,000 tonnes. The first phase in the 2026/2027 cycle aims for about 100,000 tonnes across more than 10,000 acres, with farmers accessing GH¢20,000 per acre in financing. The ministry says Ghana currently spends over $400 million a year importing fresh tomatoes and paste.
Ghana has launched the Ghana Tomato Self-Sufficiency Initiative (GHATSI), a national public-private partnership that targets annual tomato production of 400,000 tonnes and aims to end the country's dependence on imported fresh tomatoes and paste. The launch was held in Anloga at 10:00 a.m. on September 15 and was led by the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, according to PrimeNewsGhana, which cited a ministry statement.
The ministry said Ghana spends over USD 400 million a year importing fresh tomatoes and paste despite favourable land, water and climate conditions. It attributed the bulk of that spending to the December-to-July off-season deficit, the stretch of the year when domestic supply thins out and buyers turn to imported fruit and concentrate.
Phased volume targets
The first phase, in the 2026/2027 production cycle, aims to supply approximately 100,000 tonnes. That phase covers more than 10,000 acres across 40 districts, 12 regions and over 100 communities, according to the ministry statement reported by PrimeNewsGhana.
Full rollout targets 400,000 tonnes a year, four times the phase-one volume. The statement did not set a date for reaching the full target, nor did it break down the processing capacity required to absorb the additional fruit.
GH¢20,000 per acre in farmer financing
GhanaWeb reported that tomato farmers will be able to access financing of GH¢20,000 per acre under GHATSI, citing Opoku. The same outlet described the programme as targeting about 100,000 tonnes in the 2026/27 season as part of the effort to reduce dependence on imported tomatoes.
Under the Farmer Enhancement Package, participating growers receive financed agro-inputs, irrigation support, extension and technical services, and multi-peril crop insurance. Repayment is settled directly at off-take, meaning the credit is recovered when the crop is delivered rather than through separate loan servicing by the farmer.
An integrated year-round value chain
The ministry described GHATSI as an attempt to build an integrated, year-round domestic value chain by linking farmers and land to production enhancement, structured finance, multi-peril crop insurance, aggregation, industrial processing and guaranteed market access.
- End import dependency and guarantee stable year-round supply
- Raise and secure farmer incomes through contract farming
- Create sustainable youth employment across the value chain
- Eliminate avoidable post-harvest losses
- Reduce risks from climate and pest shocks
The launch was expected to bring together government officials, regional authorities, traditional leaders, farmers, financial institutions, insurers, technical partners and the media, the ministry said.
What is still unspecified
The published statements set volume, acreage and per-acre financing figures but leave several operating parameters open. The source of the GH¢20,000-per-acre facility, the insurers and financial institutions involved, the off-take pricing mechanism and the industrial processing capacity available for phase one were not detailed. For importers and processors currently supplying the December-to-July gap, the immediate practical point is timing: the first 100,000 tonnes are targeted at the 2026/2027 cycle, so any displacement of imported paste and fresh fruit would begin from that season rather than the current one.
