A Climate-Smart Greenhouse Project for Sustainable Tomato Cultivation Launched in Ghana
The Crops Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-CRI) in Ghana has announced the launch of a two-year initiative aimed at enhancing the sustainability of tomato cultivation through modern climate-smart greenhouse technologies.
This is reported by AgroReview
International Collaboration and Innovations
The project is being implemented in partnership with the Korean Program on International Agriculture (KOPIA) and is funded by the government of the Republic of Korea through the Rural Development Administration under the RDA-KOPIA program. As part of this initiative, new tomato lines developed by the World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg) will be tested at the CSIR-CRI base in Kumasi, as well as at the KOPIA center in Ghana. The goal is to identify the varieties best suited to local climatic conditions.
Increasing Yields and Supporting Farmers
The most promising tomato varieties will be grown in greenhouses located in the Ashanti, Bono, and Volta regions. The greenhouse complexes will be situated near selected local farmers, who will be identified by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA). Participants will receive specialized training in greenhouse management that will continue throughout the project duration.
Dr. Michael Kwabena Osei, the project leader and senior researcher at CSIR-CRI in Kumasi, emphasized that the key objective of the initiative is to identify high-yielding, disease-resistant tomato varieties, implement innovative greenhouse solutions, and assess their economic and environmental impact.
He noted that tomato production in Ghana still largely relies on traditional farming methods, which often lead to low yields, poor product quality, high pest and disease levels, and limited profitability for farmers.
According to Dr. Osei, the introduction of modern greenhouse technologies will significantly increase yields, reduce plant diseases, and consequently enhance the profitability of farming operations. He is confident that such approaches will strengthen climate resilience and improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers across the country.
Overall, the project aims to support climate-resilient and sustainable tomato cultivation in Ghana by introducing cutting-edge varieties, modern technologies, and developing farmers’ professional skills.