GB Foods – a company behind the popular Gino brand, has disclosed plans to invest US$70million into tomato production and processing as a major boost for tomato production in the country.
The project, as revealed by GB foods, involves establishing two industrial farms, each spanning approximately 5000 hectares, accompanied by a factory to process fresh produce.
According to GB foods, the goal is to help the country achieve self-sufficiency in tomato production and become an export hub for not only the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), but also the entire African continent, adding that: “The project is expected to create about 5000 direct jobs, in addition to indirect job.”
Dr. Teddy Ngu, GB Foods’ Corporate Affairs Director noted that the company is currently in the process of identifying suitable lands in Accra Plains, Afram Plains and Bui Plains – where soil, hydrology and topographic tests will be conducted to ensure the veracity of the land.
The initiative, as revealed by Dr. Ngu, is being carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ministry of Trade, and other agencies like Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA).
“Once the tests are completed, the team will move to the next phase – which involves conducting agronomic trials to determine the suitable seed for the full-scale project.”
Dr. Teddy Ngu
GB Foods Supply Chain Director for Africa, Chattopadhyay Rajib, said the factory boosts a total capacity of approximately 250,000 metric tonnes of tomatoes.
“Currently, the company produces around 350 tonnes per day and plans to invest US$2million each year in capital expenditure to expand its facility to meet consumer demand.”
Chattopadhyay Rajib
In Ghana, GB Foods business is almost worth GH¢1billion, with its tomato mix products being market leaders.
Globally, its turnover is around €1.5billion, and in Africa, the company has independent businesses in Nigeria, Ghana, Algeria, Western Francophone and Central East Africa.
Stakeholders In The Cocoa Industry Call For Better Pricing To Improve Farmers Livelihood
In other news, the Côte d’Ivoire – Ghana Cocoa Initiative has disclosed that it is working assiduously to ensure better pricing of cocoa for farmers.
The Côte d’Ivoire – Ghana Cocoa Initiative (CIGCI) is a cocoa alliance set up by the presidents of the two countries to raise cocoa prices. The two countries jointly control 60% of global cocoa production.
Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire in 2019 demanded a $400 premium from cocoa buyers called the Living Income Differential.
Speaking at the Cocoa Advocacy Workshop, Technical Manager for the Initiative, Mrs. Tawiah Agyarko-Kwarteng stated that although the Living Income Differential Pricing was established not long ago, farmers are still not benefiting from their produce.
“At the Côte d’Ivoire Ghana Cocoa Initiative, we have focused on representing our two countries to engage in collaborative discussion with the various actors in the sector. Volatile pricing has been a problem for the cocoa sector which is not allowing the farmers to get the true benefits that they should be getting.
“We have actively engaged over the past few months with partners in the industry to ensure that we kick start conversations on the actions that we all need to take to help our farmers get better pricing.”
Tawiah Agyarko-Kwarteng
The President of the Fair Trade Platform for Cote D’Ivoire, Fortin Bley applauded the rationale behind the workshop.
“We have been here for about a week and we are really happy for the initiative between Ghana and Cote D’lvoire. And we hope that all those initiatives will enable our farmers to have a good living income.”
Fortin Bley
