Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon and Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. John Setor Dumelo, has announced a massive expansion of his farming portfolio—a move that could signal a shift in how Ghana manages its “red gold” deficit.
Taking to Facebook to share his vision, Dumelo revealed a strategic roadmap for large-scale, fully irrigated dry-season tomato cultivation set to kick off later this year.
While many farmers rely on the mercy of the rains, Dumelo is leaning heavily into technology and timing.
By utilizing full irrigation, his project aims to hit the market exactly when local supplies usually dwindle and prices skyrocket.
According to the roadmap, the nursery phase will begin in September, with transplanting to the main fields following in October.
By spreading production across three distinct sites, Dumelo ensures a continuous supply chain that lasts for four months, providing a steady stream of fresh produce during the peak of the dry season.
The scale of the project is what has industry experts and citizens talking as the farm is projected to produce a staggering 2,500 tons of tomatoes.
”As a proud farmer, I am going into large scale, my farm is expected to produce 2,500 tons of tomatoes during that period,” Dumelo shared with his followers.
To put that in perspective, 2,500 tons is roughly equivalent to 100 large trailer loads of tomatoes.
For a country that often imports significant quantities of tomatoes from neighboring Burkina Faso during the dry months, this level of local production represents a significant step toward food sovereignty.
This initiative aims to reduce imports, as local large-scale production keeps foreign exchange within the country and lowers the cost of a staple ingredient for the average household.
As the Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Dumelo appears to be “walking the talk.”
His hands-on approach serves as a blueprint for young entrepreneurs looking to explore the profitability of agribusiness.
As the nursery phase approaches this September, all eyes will be on the North to see if this ambitious dry-season gamble pays off.
If successful, Dumelo won’t just be harvesting tomatoes—he will be harvesting a new era of agricultural confidence in Ghana.
By 1960news.com
