Every tomato season begins with hope, but for many farmers in northern Ghana, it also begins with uncertainty. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, pests, diseases, and limited access to quality seed continue to reduce yields and incomes. Many farmers rely on varieties that struggle under these changing conditions, making tomato production increasingly risky.
To help farmers respond to these challenges, WorldVeg introduced its improved climate-smart tomato varieties through demonstration plots and hands-on training under the West Africa Food Systems Resilience Project Phase II (FSRP2) and the Vegetable Compact of the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT).
The initiative aimed to do more than introduce new seeds. It sought to equip farmers with improved varieties and the knowledge needed to produce healthy, high-yielding tomato crops under changing climatic conditions.
Demonstration plots established in Bonia, Gambibgo, and Goriko – in the country’s Upper East Region – provided farmers with the opportunity to observe six WorldVeg tomato varieties growing alongside local varieties under real farming conditions. Throughout the production cycle, farmers participated in nursery establishment, transplanting, crop management, and field observations, allowing them to learn by doing.
The six varieties included three hybrid lines (CLN4333, CLN4335, and CLN4344) and three open-pollinated varieties (BENTO-12, BENTO-18, and BENTO-19). The hybrids were developed by WorldVeg for high productivity, early maturity, good fruit firmness, excellent shelf life, and tolerance to heat and major tomato diseases (bacterial wilt and tomato yellow leaf curl disease). The BENTO varieties, released in Benin in 2025, combine high yield potential with resistance to bacterial wilt and offer farmers the additional advantage of saving seed for future planting, making them a practical and affordable option for smallholders.
As the season progressed, farmers closely monitored the growth and performance of the varieties, comparing plant vigour, maturity, fruit size, disease tolerance, fruit firmness, shelf life, and market appeal.
The results were encouraging. The WorldVeg hybrid varieties produced impressive yields of 78.5 t/ha, 75.8 t/ha, and 73.6 t/ha, respectively, while the BENTO open-pollinated varieties also yielded very well – between 62.8 and 67.3 t/ha. In contrast, the local variety produced less than 20 t/ha.
Farmers were especially impressed by CLN4333 and CLN4344 because of their vigorous growth, early maturity, large firm fruits, rich pulp, and strong market appeal. They also observed that the varieties performed well under the region’s hot and dry conditions, making them promising options for climate-resilient tomato production.
The demonstrations also created opportunities for farmers to better understand the strengths and limitations of each variety. While the BENTO varieties showed vigorous growth, abundant flowering, and good yield potential, some farmers observed softer fruits and uneven ripening under certain conditions. These observations sparked valuable discussions between farmers, researchers, and extension officers on how management practices and environmental conditions influence crop performance. The discussions helped farmers appreciate that choosing a tomato variety involves more than yield alone; fruit quality, shelf life, market preference, and adaptation to local conditions are equally important.
Demonstrations of WorldVeg-developed climate-smart tomatoes in Northern Ghana. Pic by Paul Zaato.
To ensure that the knowledge reached more farmers, WorldVeg and Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture organized outreach activities in fifteen additional communities across the Upper East Region. More than 1,200 farmers participated in a series of field days, where improved tomato seeds and harvested fruits were displayed and compared. Lead farmers hosting demonstration plots shared their experiences and explained how the improved varieties performed under local conditions. The activities also reinforced key messages on good agronomic practices, integrated pest management – such as the use of neem extract as a readily available and affordable plant-based pesticide – and the importance of selecting varieties that match farmers’ production environments and market needs.
Highlighting the practical value of the demonstrations, Richard Ayamga, a lead farmer from Goriko Community, Talensi District, said:
“Before participating in this activity, I had limited exposure to newly developed tomato varieties. The demonstration plots allowed us to compare varieties side by side and understand their strengths and weaknesses. The field day discussions also helped us understand the importance of proper spacing, irrigation scheduling, and careful weeding to avoid root damage.”
Afania Abaah, a participating farmer from Gambibgo Community, Bolgatanga East District, said that the field day she attended changed her perception of tomato production:
“The field day gave me the chance to learn directly from practical demonstrations rather than only hearing about new varieties. What impressed me most was the excellent germination and early establishment of CLN4333. The plants remained healthy throughout the season and produced attractive fruits that many traders would prefer.”
She plans to adopt some of the improved management practices on a larger portion of her farm next season.
By the end of the activities, farmers had gained much more than exposure to new tomato varieties. They had developed practical skills in climate-smart tomato production, improved their understanding of good agronomic practices, and gained the confidence to adopt improved technologies on their own farms. Many participants expressed their intention to cultivate the WorldVeg varieties in future seasons and to share the knowledge gained with other farmers in their communities.
Story by: Paul Zaato, Jessica Baidoo and Mathieu Ayenan
This work received support from the West Africa Food Systems Resilience Project (FSRP2) funded by the World Bank and the Vegetable Compact of the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) program, funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB). This work is part of the Action Area on Climate Resilience from the WorldVeg Global Strategy (2026-2033).
