ILO Supports the Production and Commercialization of Indigenous Tomato Seeds for Ghana using Systems Approach
As part of efforts to improve food security and promote environmental sustainability in Ghana, the International Labour Organization has supported the production and commercialization of the first locally produced certified tomato seeds, using the systems approach.
26 March 2024
The ILO Green Market Systems Development for Decent Work (GMSD) Project has supported the production and commercialization of two (2) indigenous OPV tomato varieties (CRI – Kopia and CRI – Kwabena Kwabena) in Ghana, which are the first locally produced certified tomato seeds, using the systems approach.
The Project which works in coordination with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, and pursuant to the Government’s Policy of Enhanced Planting for Food and Jobs (2023 – 2027), has invested about $32,000 in the production and commercialization of the two OPV tomato varieties through a certified seed producer, Agri-Commercial Seed Services Ltd.
The ILO’s Market Systems Development (MSD) for Decent Work which started pilot activities in the tomato sector Ghana in 2023 aims to address key systemic challenges that limit the adoption and uptake of greener, more resilient and more productive farming practices in the vegetables sector, especially the tomato sub-sector.
Tomato production in Ghana is crucial, accounting for 40% of vegetable expenditure which is estimated at GHS 1.2 billion annually (GSS, 2021). However, local production achieves only 37% self-sufficiency, resulting in significant imports. The sub-sector faces challenges which impede its development to full capacity, especially on tomato seeds.
MOFA estimates that 70% of tomato seeds used in Ghana by farmers come from rotten tomatoes and 30% from imported seed varieties (F1 hybrids and Open Pollinated). The farmer extracted seeds are poor in quality (e.g., very acidic-3-3.5% brix, shelf life of 2 days, watery, carry seed borne fungi and bacteria diseases e.tc). The imported varieties tend not to be adapted to the tropical hot and humid conditions of the agro-ecological zones of Ghana and succumb to strains of fungi, bacteria and pests found in Ghana. The extracted seeds therefore do not achieve any meaningful yields, whilst the imported ones achieve only about 25% of their listed yield potentials in Ghana. According to MOFA, the national average yield of the small-holder farmers in the Southern sector of Ghana is 7.5mt/ha, whilst ILO in their scoping work recorded an estimated yield of 1.5-2.0mt/ha in the Upper East Region of Ghana.
Seeing the strategic systemic importance to seeds to productivity and sustainability of the sub-sector, the ILO together with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture through the Directorate of Crop Services , the Ghana National Tomato Traders and Transporters Association and other relevant stakeholders convened a dialogue in Bolgatanga to develop a roadmap towards more productive, environmentally sustainable tomato production in the Upper East Region and creating linkages with relevant actors to support Government’s overall objective of ensuring a national self-sufficiency in Tomato. Following from that meeting, the ILO made the investment into to production and commercialization of two (2) Indigenous OPV tomato varieties (CRI – Kopia and CRI – Kwabena Kwabena).
The investment into the two varieties which are currently under production, will generate 240Kg of tomato seed which amounts to 7.5% of national demand, and will be sold to small-holder farmers in the Forest and Transitional agro-ecological zones. The seeds from this investment would be at least 25% cheaper than the prevailing market prices of all classes of seeds and have a competitive yields and quality standards (e.g., yield of 20mt/ha, minimum 4.5% brix level, sweet/sour taste e.tc) to any tomato seeds on the market.
Commenting on ILO’s investment, the Director of the Directorate of Crop Services at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Solomon Gyan Ansah highlighted the alignment of the ILO’s intervention with the National Policy on Enhanced Planting for Food and Jobs and underscored its relevance for food security, livelihoods and income for farmers and actors in the value chain.
The Project Manager for the ILO Green MSD Project, Steve Hartrich, on his part asserted that the interventions in the tomato sector in Ghana aim to generate both impact and evidence of impact at the nexus of market systems development and the environment in the vegetable sector in Northern Ghana.
The Project which works in coordination with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, and pursuant to the Government’s Policy of Enhanced Planting for Food and Jobs (2023 – 2027), has invested about $32,000 in the production and commercialization of the two OPV tomato varieties through a certified seed producer, Agri-Commercial Seed Services Ltd.
The ILO’s Market Systems Development (MSD) for Decent Work which started pilot activities in the tomato sector Ghana in 2023 aims to address key systemic challenges that limit the adoption and uptake of greener, more resilient and more productive farming practices in the vegetables sector, especially the tomato sub-sector.
Tomato production in Ghana is crucial, accounting for 40% of vegetable expenditure which is estimated at GHS 1.2 billion annually (GSS, 2021). However, local production achieves only 37% self-sufficiency, resulting in significant imports. The sub-sector faces challenges which impede its development to full capacity, especially on tomato seeds.
MOFA estimates that 70% of tomato seeds used in Ghana by farmers come from rotten tomatoes and 30% from imported seed varieties (F1 hybrids and Open Pollinated). The farmer extracted seeds are poor in quality (e.g., very acidic-3-3.5% brix, shelf life of 2 days, watery, carry seed borne fungi and bacteria diseases e.tc). The imported varieties tend not to be adapted to the tropical hot and humid conditions of the agro-ecological zones of Ghana and succumb to strains of fungi, bacteria and pests found in Ghana. The extracted seeds therefore do not achieve any meaningful yields, whilst the imported ones achieve only about 25% of their listed yield potentials in Ghana. According to MOFA, the national average yield of the small-holder farmers in the Southern sector of Ghana is 7.5mt/ha, whilst ILO in their scoping work recorded an estimated yield of 1.5-2.0mt/ha in the Upper East Region of Ghana.
Seeing the strategic systemic importance to seeds to productivity and sustainability of the sub-sector, the ILO together with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture through the Directorate of Crop Services , the Ghana National Tomato Traders and Transporters Association and other relevant stakeholders convened a dialogue in Bolgatanga to develop a roadmap towards more productive, environmentally sustainable tomato production in the Upper East Region and creating linkages with relevant actors to support Government’s overall objective of ensuring a national self-sufficiency in Tomato. Following from that meeting, the ILO made the investment into to production and commercialization of two (2) Indigenous OPV tomato varieties (CRI – Kopia and CRI – Kwabena Kwabena).
The investment into the two varieties which are currently under production, will generate 240Kg of tomato seed which amounts to 7.5% of national demand, and will be sold to small-holder farmers in the Forest and Transitional agro-ecological zones. The seeds from this investment would be at least 25% cheaper than the prevailing market prices of all classes of seeds and have a competitive yields and quality standards (e.g., yield of 20mt/ha, minimum 4.5% brix level, sweet/sour taste e.tc) to any tomato seeds on the market.
Commenting on ILO’s investment, the Director of the Directorate of Crop Services at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Solomon Gyan Ansah highlighted the alignment of the ILO’s intervention with the National Policy on Enhanced Planting for Food and Jobs and underscored its relevance for food security, livelihoods and income for farmers and actors in the value chain.
The Project Manager for the ILO Green MSD Project, Steve Hartrich, on his part asserted that the interventions in the tomato sector in Ghana aim to generate both impact and evidence of impact at the nexus of market systems development and the environment in the vegetable sector in Northern Ghana.