President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to rehabilitate the Pwalugu Tomato Factory as part of efforts to increase food production and reduce Ghana’s dependence on imported vegetables.

The President said the factory would be used to process tomatoes produced locally, creating a ready market for farmers in the Upper East Region.

He mentioned that agriculture and agro-processing would receive a major share of government’s planned $10 billion investment under the New Economy programme.

Speaking during a citizens’ engagement in Navrongo, he said $5 billion of the investment is expected to go into agriculture and agro-processing over the next four years.

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President Mahama added that the Upper East Region would benefit from the investment through the expansion of irrigation facilities to allow farmers to produce crops throughout the year.

He said the government had already started efforts to increase tomato production in the region through the tomato revitalisation project.

He explained that about 2,500 acres of land could be put under tomato cultivation, with the rehabilitated Pwalugu factory serving as the main processing centre.

“We're going to rehabilitate the Pwalugu tomato factory so that we can process the tomatoes that Upper East is producing to feed the rest of the country,” he stated.

The President also announced plans to complete the Tamne irrigation dam to support dry-season farming in four districts in the Bawku area.

The project, he stated would help farmers increase onion production, as the area has a strong advantage in growing the crop.

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President Mahama said increasing local onion production would help Ghana reduce its dependence on onions imported from Niger.

He added that government would support farmers with irrigation and other interventions to increase local food production and strengthen agro-processing in the region.

DR/SA

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