Tomato production receives boost: World Bank secures $20m Dutch grant for Ghana

The World Bank has secured a $20 million grant from the Dutch government to support tomato production in Ghana under the West Africa Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP). The initiative aims to increase local production, reduce reliance on imported tomatoes, and strengthen the country’s agricultural value chain. Speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement in Accra, the … The post Tomato production receives boost: World Bank secures $20m Dutch grant for Ghana appeared first on Ghanaian Times.

Mar 25, 2026 - 07:46

Tomato production receives boost: World Bank secures $20m Dutch grant for Ghana

The World Bank has secured a $20 million grant from the Dutch government to support tomato production in Ghana under the West Africa Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP). The initiative aims to increase local production, reduce reliance on imported tomatoes, and strengthen the country’s agricultural value chain.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement in Accra, the World Bank’s Agriculture Economist, Dr Ashwini R. Sebastian, said the funding would support cluster farming to enhance large-scale tomato cultivation. In addition to the $20 million, the Dutch government has committed a separate $1 million grant to support tomato seed production.

“It is not that difficult to solve the tomato problem. With targeted investments and proper coordination, we can significantly reduce imports and even position Ghana for exports,” Dr Sebastian noted.

She stressed that global geopolitical tensions and ongoing conflicts pose risks to agriculture, particularly regarding fertilizer supply and food security. Regional ministers of agriculture under ECOWAS have been meeting to discuss strategies to mitigate these risks.

Dr Sebastian highlighted that Ghana’s scattered agricultural interventions over the years have limited impact, advocating for large-scale cluster-based farming on land tracts ranging between 10,000 and 20,000 hectares. She also noted that development partners, including Norway, have supported testing improved seed varieties, dry-season farming, and pilot irrigation projects such as solar-powered boreholes.

During the event, Mr Isaac Ashai Odamtten, a member of Parliament’s Select Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs, assured stakeholders that Parliament would pursue accountability on agricultural programmes, including grant utilization and policy implementation challenges.

Meanwhile, Mr Abdulkarim Mohammed, Coordinator of the Economic Governance Platform, urged the government and development partners to prioritise agriculture as a key sector for economic recovery, pointing out that the sector has received limited attention under Ghana’s programme with the IMF.

The grant and associated interventions are expected to strengthen tomato production, enhance food security, and create opportunities for domestic and export markets, positioning agriculture as a central driver of Ghana’s economic growth.

BY KINGSLEY ASARE

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