Otokunor Engages Farmers in Upper East, Assures Support Amid Tomato Disease Outbreak

The Director of Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness (PIAA), Kofi Boamah Otokunor, has reaffirmed government’s commitment to supporting farmers in the Upper East Region following growing concerns over disease outbreaks affecting tomato production.

Mr Otokunor made the assurance during a working visit to Sakpare, a key irrigation farming community near Zebilla, where he engaged leaders of various farmer groups operating around the Sakpare irrigation dam.

He was accompanied by the District Chief Executive for Bawku West, James Ayaweogo, as well as district agricultural officers.

The Sakpare enclave, which relies heavily on the White Volta for irrigation, supports the cultivation of over 4,000 acres of farmland and is widely regarded as one of the leading hubs for tomato production in the region.

However, farmers say their output is increasingly under threat due to the resurgence of bacterial wilt disease and nematode infestations, which have significantly reduced yields in recent seasons.

During the interaction, farmer representatives expressed concern about the rapid spread of the diseases, noting that many have suffered losses despite increased investment in inputs and labour. They appealed for urgent technical support and access to disease-resistant varieties to safeguard their livelihoods.

Responding to the concerns, Mr Otokunor outlined a number of agronomic and plant health interventions aimed at mitigating the impact of the outbreak. These included improved crop management practices, early detection measures, and the use of appropriate treatment methods to control both bacterial wilt and nematode attacks.

In a social media post after the visit, he indicated that, it gave him the opportunity to brief farmers on ongoing government initiatives under the Feed Ghana Programme.

The programme, he explained, is designed to reduce the cost of agricultural production while strengthening market access for farmers, particularly smallholders who form the backbone of the sector.

“At Sakpare various farmer groups depend on the White Volta to irrigate over 4000 acres of land. It is known as one of the biggest hub for tomato production in the Upper East Region.

The expressed concerns over the upsurge of the bacterial wilt disease and other nematodes attacks on their tomato plants, making them less productive. I shared with them a number of agronomic and pathologic solutions to help mitigate the impact of the disease” part of his post reads.

The engagement at Sakpare forms part of a broader effort by government officials to deepen interaction with farming communities and address emerging challenges within Ghana’s agricultural value chain.

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While in the Upper East Region, I was joined by the DCE for Bawku West, Hon. James Ayaweogo and District Agric Officers to engage some leaders of the various farmer groups at Sakpare irrigation dam in Zebilla.

At Sakpare various farmer groups depend on the White Volta to irrigate over 4000 acres of land. It is known as one of the biggest hub for tomato production in the Upper East Region.

The expressed concerns over the upsurge of the bacterial wilt disease and other nematodes attacks on their tomato plants, making them less productive. I shared with them a number of agronomic and pathologic solutions to help mitigate the impact of the disease.

We took the opportunity to share with them various government interventions under the Feed Ghana programme targeted cutting the cost of agro-production and improving market linkages for farmers especially smallholder farmers.