Over 200 tomato farmers from the Berekum East and West municipalities and the Dormaa East District of the Bono Region have been equipped in climate-resilient vegetable production to strengthen their capacity to cope with the growing effects of climate change.
The training focused on modern farming techniques aimed at increasing productivity while minimizing the impact of drought, extreme temperatures, pests, and diseases.
The tomato farmers were introduced to the two new tomato seeds, KOPIA and “CRI Kwabena Kwabena” developed by CSIR with climate-smart agricultural practices, including efficient water management, soil conservation, the use of improved drought-tolerant tomato seed varieties, integrated pest management, and proper fertilizer application.
The Principal Research Scientist at the Crop Research Institute, Dr. Michael Kwabena Osei, stressed the importance of equipping vegetable farmers with improved seed varieties to increase tomato production.
He noted that training farmers in climate-resilient agricultural practices is essential for safeguarding food security and improving farmers’ incomes as weather patterns become increasingly unpredictable.
The Berekum West District Director of Agriculture, Mr. Kwasi Danso, emphasized the need for continuous training for tomato farmers, describing it as one of the most effective ways to increase yields and reduce Ghana’s dependence on tomato imports from Burkina Faso.
The training forms part of ongoing efforts to equip vegetable farmers with practical skills to adapt to climate change and promote a more sustainable and resilient tomato production.
By Richard Manu
