The CSIR-CRI, the premiere national research institution and CSIR-Crop Research Institute, in partnership with KOPIA Ghana, and with funding from the Korean Government, through RDA-KOPIA, has launched the KOPIA Tomato Project.
The two-year project is designed to enhance sustainable tomato production in Ghana, through climate-smart greenhouse technologies.
The project will evaluate new tomato lines from WorldVeg at CSIR-CRI at Fumesua, near Kumasi, and the KOPIA Centre in Ghana.
Selected lines will be cultivated in greenhouses in Ashanti, Bono and Volta regions, close to selected farmlands and farmers chosen by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA). This is to build the farmers’ capacity on greenhouse tomato cultivation during the project period.
Dr. Michael Kwabena Osei, Project Leader and Principal Research Scientist at CSIR-Crops Research Institute, stated that key objectives of the project include identifying high-performing, disease-resistant varieties, promoting innovative greenhouse technologies, and assessing economic and environmental impacts.
According to him, adopting greenhouse technologies can increase yields, reduce disease incidence, and improve profitability.
He noted that traditional farming practices dominate tomato production in Ghana, resulting in low yields, poor quality produce, high disease and pest incidence, and limited profitability.
Dr. Osei expressed optimism that greenhouse technologies will enhance the productivity, profitability and climate resilience of smallholder farmers.
The project’s major objectives include enhancing climate-resilient and sustainable tomato production in Ghana through improved varieties, technologies, and capacity building.
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