Korea Partnership for Innovation of Agriculture (KOPIA) Tomato Project Launch: Revolutionizing Ghana’s Tomato Production with Climate-Smart Greenhouse Technologies
The CSIR-Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI) in Kwadaso, Ghana, hosted the official launch of the Climate-Smart Greenhouse Tomato project on February 27, 2026. This two-year initiative, funded by the Korean Government through the Rural Development Administration (RDA) – Korea Partnership for Innovation of Agriculture (KOPIA) and implemented in partnership with KOPIA Ghana, aims to transform tomato production in Ghana by introducing climate-smart greenhouse technologies and promoting sustainable practices among smallholder farmers.
Project Objectives
The project seeks to identify and demonstrate high-performing, disease-resistant tomato varieties, promote innovative greenhouse technologies, strengthen farmers’ capacity, and assess economic and environmental impacts. The ultimate goal is to contribute to food security, income generation, and sustainable agriculture practices in Ghana.
Project Overview
Dr. Michael Kwabena Osei, a Vegetable Breeder and Project leader, presented the project’s objectives and activities. He highlighted the challenges of traditional tomato farming in Ghana, including low yields, poor quality produce, and high disease incidence. The project will assemble 8-10 greenhouse tomato lines from WorldVeg and local sources, evaluate them across three regions (Ashanti, Bono, and Volta), demonstrate top-performing varieties, and build the capacity of smallholder farmers in greenhouse management and climate-smart techniques.
Key Activities and Expected Outputs
– Evaluation of 8-10 greenhouse tomato lines in three regions
– Demonstration of top-performing varieties
– Capacity building for 150 smallholder farmers on greenhouse management and climate-smart techniques
– Economic and environmental assessments
– Expected outputs: 20-30 tons/ha production, 5 high-yielding, disease-resistant varieties, adoption of innovative technologies, and training 150 farmers
– Project timeline: 2026-2027
Project Team
The project team consists of experts from various fields, including:
– Dr. Michael Kwabena Osei, Vegetable Breeder and Project Leader
– Dr. Joseph Adomako, Plant Health Specialist/Pathologist
– Dr. Felix Frimpong, Physiologist/Agronomist
– Dr. Belinda Akomeah, Molecular Biologist
– Stephen John Ayeh, Socio-Economist
– Akwasi Antwi Adjei, Technical Officer
– James Nakoh, Technical Officer
Discussion and Closing
The meeting sparked a lively discussion, with each expert contributing valuable insights based on their field. The team expressed enthusiasm and commitment to a successful project rollout, culminating in a group photo.
The Climate-Smart Greenhouse Tomato project has the potential to transform Ghana’s tomato production, improve food security, and enhance the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. We look forward to seeing the project’s progress and impact in the coming years.
Contributors: Lynda Gifty Serwaa Nsafoah, Clara Boateng Kwakye
