Tomato canning company to start production

Accra, July 18, GNA- The former Tomato Canning Company, Tomacan, at Wenchi in Brong Ahafo has been rehabilitated and refurbished under a Private-Public Participation arrangement. The Wenchi Tomato Processing Project, a collaborative venture between the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), the German Technical Co-operation (GTZ), Afrique Link, a private company, and Uniliver Ghana Limited, are managing it.

The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Major Courage Quarshigah said in Parliament on Friday during question time as to when the abandoned Tomato Factory would be renovated and put to use. He said the replacement of parts of the machinery has been completed and a new transformer has also been installed and awaiting electricity connection by the Volta River Authority (VRA). The Minister said his ministry has started developing a nursery of an improved variety of tomatoes for the farmers to cultivate in other to ensure regular supply of raw materials to the factory.

On the revamping of the Pong-Tamale Veterinary Service station, Major Quarshigah said efforts are being made to rehabilitate the infrastructure and provide the necessary inputs. He said the station since establishment has not seen any major rehabilitation and the Agricultural Services Sub-sector Investment Project and the Livestock Development Project (LDP) are assisting in the rehabilitation work. The Minister said the Pong-Tamale station has animal breeding farms, central veterinary laboratory, animal health and production college and tsetse and trypanosomiasis control unit.