Bolgatanga: The Irrigation Company of Upper Region Limited (ICOUR) has designated 500 hectares of land within the Tono and Vea Irrigation Schemes for tomato cultivation, in a bid to reduce Ghana's heavy reliance on imported tomatoes.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr Dominic Atogumsekiya Anarigide, Managing Director of ICOUR, announced the initiative during an interview at the inauguration of ICOUR's new nine-member Board of Directors in Bolgatanga. This move seeks to restore ICOUR's status as a leading producer of quality tomatoes and align with the government's goal of achieving food security and boosting local production.
Dr Anarigide highlighted that the Ghanaian government currently spends between GH?650 million to GH?760 million annually on tomato imports, in addition to over US$400 million on processed tomato paste and concentrate. The tomato trade was severely disrupted in 2025 and early 2026 due to Burkina Faso's focus on domestic agro-processing, which limited exports, and a suspected terrorist attack on Ghanaian tomato traders, resulting in eight casualties.
'ICOUR was once recognized both nationally and internationally for producing high-quality tomatoes,' Dr Anarigide stated. 'However, in recent times, we have concentrated primarily on rice, along with some pepper and other crops.' He explained that the decision to allocate 500 hectares to tomato production was spurred by a directive from Mr Eric Opoku, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, as a strategy to decrease tomato imports and enhance local production.
Dr Anarigide shared that the company has received organic fertilizer to support the project, with approximately 6,000 pieces aimed at bolstering production at the Tono and Vea irrigation schemes. ICOUR is implementing a new production model to ensure ready markets for farmers, linking them with off takers who agree to purchase produce before planting begins.
'We are securing buyers for the farmers in advance,' he elaborated. 'Buyers engage with farmers, sign agreements, and provide part of the inputs, thereby guaranteeing a market for the produce.' This model ensures farmers know their buyers prior to production, while off takers offer guidance on production standards to meet market demands.
ICOUR is also working with stakeholders to identify suitable tomato varieties that align with market needs, drawing insights from Burkina Faso's tomato production model. North East Regional Minister Mr Ibrahim Tia, representing the Minister for Food and Agriculture, urged ICOUR to revive tomato production and reduce the nation's import dependency.
Mr Tia encouraged the newly appointed board to deliver strong leadership, ensuring ICOUR's irrigation facilities remain resilient and leave enduring legacies. The ICOUR Board, chaired by Mr Akamugri Donatus Atanga, Upper East Regional Minister, includes diverse members such as Mr Adam Jibril, Dr Dominic Atogumsekiya Anarigide, Mr Gasper Dondaa, and Mr Eric Adu-Dankwa, among others.
Mr Atanga affirmed the board's commitment to enhancing corporate governance, operational efficiency, and positioning ICOUR as a leader in irrigation development.