PALACE MALL, ACCRA CITY HOTEL, CMB MARKET, AGBOGBLOSHI, OTHER OUTLETS TAKE STOCK OF OVER 240 TONS OF FSRP-FARMMATE TOMATOES

Over 240 tons of freshly harvested tomatoes from the Upper East Region, produced through a collaboration between the West Africa Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP) and FarmMate Ltd have been arriving in the Greater Accra Region, to major markets like (Agbogbloshi and CMB) and premium markets (like Palace Mall and the Accra City Hotel). Other outlets that are stocking up the FSRP-FarmMate tomatoes are: Farmer’s Market, Fairway Supermarket, Sky Bar (Villagio) and D Cafe. The 240 tons constitute just the first of 3-5 rounds of harvests for the production period.

This forms part of interventions by FSRP - under the Ministry of Food & Agriculture (MoFA), to address the yearly nationwide incidence of tomato shortages and sharply fluctuating prices, especially during the dry season. The scheme is being carried out through financial support from the Norwegian Government and coordinated by the World Bank, to revamp the Ghanaian tomato industry for year-round availability of the fruit by way of dry season production. 

FSRP INNOVATIONS & QUALITY CONTROL

FSRP’s value chain commodities (rice, maize, soya, tomatoes and broiler poultry) are produced using climate-smart agricultural practices and innovations, amidst strict quality control checks by experts of the Directorate for Plant Protection & Regulatory Services (PPRSD-MOFA), Directorate of Crops Services (CDS-MOFA), Directorate of  Agric Extension Services (DAES-MOFA); the Soil Research Institute of the Council for Scientific & Industrial Research (CRI-CSIR), Crop Research Institute (CRI-CSIR), and Environmental and Social Safeguards experts of FSRP and FarmMate agronomists.  Straight from the farms, the produce are packed into a solar-powered temperature-regulated on-farm packhouse, for transportation to designated outlets, within 24-36 hours of harvesting.

FSRP-FARMMATE PARTNERSHIP

Under the programme, farmers are receiving inputs from FSRP in the form of smart seeds, organic agro chemicals like enhanced blended fertilizers with micronutrients, organic manure and organic pesticides and extension advisory services.

FarmMate on its part, is giving famers close extension support, monitoring and immediate offtake of harvests.

FEEDBACK FROM MARKETS & OUTLETS

Opoku Agyemang Clinton

Sustainability and Compliance Officer (Accra City Hotel)

[Regarding Accra City Hotel’s food safety standards] “Accra City Hotel is certified for ISO 22000, and this ISO basically is an international standard for food safety management systems. This certification outlines frameworks to safeguard and control food safety hazards, and then it integrates hazard analysis and critical control points with system management, and also prerequisite programs using the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle, with improvements for the food safety standards”.

[Regarding the quality of tomatoes procured from FSRP/FarmMate] “With food safety as a priority, we source our raw materials or our produce used in the kitchen from suppliers or institutions that share in the same food safety goal as us. So then FSRP FarmMate was a supplier taken on, and then we had to conduct a supplier audit at their premises. We were pleased to say that all their processes and their procedures conform to food safety standards we, as a business, preach. So then we decided to take them on”.

[Regarding feedback from ACH’s Chefs] “Then, with the feedback from our chefs, they made us aware that the tomatoes are well ripe, they are juicy, and then they come wholesome. They are not compromised, and that is one thing we hold very key. We make sure that every produce we are taking as a business is not compromised, it’s wholesome, and it conforms to the food safety standards we preach as a business”

Bassam Taleb

Fresh Purchasing Department (Palace Mall)

[Regarding the quality of FSRP-FarmMate Tomatoes] “To be honest with you, the tomato that comes from FSRP and FarmMate is the best quality so far because they follow a very good sorting program. They use certified seeds, free of chemicals, free of pesticides and of course a trusted source of water.

[Regarding Palace Mall’s standards] First, the tomatoes should be free of pesticides, chemicals, and antibiotics. Second, should be supplied to us from a trusted supplier that uses a trusted source of water, and it should look very good, juicy and tasty.

[Regarding advise for Agric in Ghana] A lot of things can be done in order to develop the agriculture sector in Ghana. I would like to suggest more support to farmers in terms of subsidies, assistance with seeds, maybe small loans in order to develop their farms, and the most important thing is to have trusted off-takers”

Naomi Atuahene (Alias Shatta-Wale)

Bulk Tomato Trader, CMB Railway Market

“My name is Naomi Atuahene. Many people know me as Shatta Wale in Accra - SM for life!                                     The tomato products (from FSRP-FarmMate) are of very high quality. They are always fresh upon arrival, with no signs of rotting. Tomatoes usually start changing form after 3 days. But these ones last much longer and are firmer and stronger than the tomatoes imported from Burkina Faso”

[Regarding buyers’ remarks] My clients appreciate them greatly and consistently give positive reviews. The people I work with also commend the quality. Even after several days, the tomatoes remain in good condition.

[Regarding advise to government] “We humbly appeal to the government to support tomato farming in Ghana, especially in areas like Navrongo, where the land is well suited for tomato production. Strengthening local production will benefit everyone and reduce the need to travel to Burkina Faso to purchase tomatoes”

Hanna Owusu

Bulk Tomato Trader, Agbogbloshi Market

FSRP FarmMate produces high-quality tomatoes. When the tomatoes arrive, there are no signs of rot. Even after a week, they remain fresh and in good condition. When the tomatoes are brought to the market, the market women really appreciate them. If tomato production and harvesting are done on a large scale, it will go a long way to benefit the country. The tomatoes are of excellent quality.

[Regarding advise to government] “I would also like to appeal to the government to support and invest in tomato farming so that we do not have to travel all the way to Burkina Faso to purchase tomatoes for use in Ghana.

[Regarding buyers’ remarks] “Whenever I bring these tomatoes to the Agbogbloshie Market, the market women show great interest and make enquiries about them. I always inform them that the tomatoes are produced in Ghana, not Burkina Faso”

ABOUT FSRP

The West Africa Food System Resilience Project (FSRP) is a Government of Ghana project, funded by The World Bank, coordinated by the Economic Community of West African States [ECOWAS] and implemented in 8 countries (Sierra Leone, Senegal, Ghana, Togo, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad and Mali).  In Ghana, FSRP is being implemented by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA). The project development objective is to increase West Africa’s preparedness against food insecurity and improve the resilience of food systems in Ghana.

To that end, works are fast advanced to construct or refurbish pivotal value chain facilities across the country, including: veterinary-based laboratories, plant-based laboratories, a seed bank, inner valleys, irrigation schemes, testing labs at selected border posts; warehouses and markets for cross-border bulk trade of FSRP’s value chain produce: Rice, Maize, Soya, Tomato and Broiler Poultry. FSRP is also supporting the intensified production of these value chain produce.