Talensi DCE courts investors for revival of Pwalugu Tomato Factory

The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Talensi, Hon. John Millim Nabwomya, has intensified efforts to revive the long-dormant Pwalugu Northern Star Tomato Factory following a strategic engagement with a delegation from Nutrifood Ghana Limited, a leading food processing company known for products such as Tasty Tom Tomato Paste and NutriSnax Biscuits.

The delegation, which included representatives from Feed Ghana and an agricultural engineer and researcher from Nigeria, visited the Talensi District to inspect the factory and assess its viability for possible rehabilitation and operationalization.

According to the team, preliminary discussions had already been held with the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture regarding the future of the factory and potential investment opportunities.

During the engagement, the delegation stressed the importance of ensuring a sustainable supply of tomatoes and other raw materials before any investment decision could be made. As part of their assessment, the team visited the Tono Irrigation Scheme to evaluate its capacity to support large-scale tomato production for industrial processing.

Hon. Nabwomya welcomed the delegation and expressed optimism that their assessment would pave the way for the revival of the factory, which has remained inactive for years despite its strategic importance to northern Ghana's agricultural economy.

He noted that farmers in Pwalugu and surrounding communities continue to cultivate tomatoes along the White Volta and could be organized into production groups to guarantee a steady supply of raw materials for processing.

The DCE further revealed that the Assembly is engaging experts from the University of Ghana and a Swiss agricultural specialist to explore improved and organic high-yield tomato seed varieties capable of significantly increasing yields in the district.

The Country Director of Nutrifood Ghana explained that the company would undertake a detailed assessment of the facility, including the condition of existing machinery, production capacity, operational efficiency and the level of investment required before reaching a final decision.

He also encouraged the DCE to maintain close collaboration with relevant ministries and stakeholders to facilitate the factory's eventual reopening.

In response, Hon. Nabwomya assured the delegation of the Assembly's full support and pledged to work closely with the Upper East Regional Minister and the Member of Parliament for Talensi to advocate for the factory's revival.

The visiting team commended the DCE for his proactive leadership and commitment to attracting investments aimed at promoting industrial development, agricultural transformation and job creation within the district.

The Pwalugu Tomato Factory, also known as the Northern Star Tomato Company, was established during the era of Ghana's first President, Kwame Nkrumah. The facility was originally constructed in the early 1960s to process tomatoes into paste and puree for both local consumption and export markets. Over the years, however, it faced operational and financial challenges, including inadequate raw material supply, leading to repeated shutdowns and unsuccessful revival attempts. The factory was rehabilitated and resumed operations in 2006 under the name Northern Star Tomato Company but struggled to sustain production.

Industry observers believe that restoring the factory could provide a reliable market for tomato farmers, reduce post-harvest losses and create employment opportunities across the Upper East Region. Previous studies and reports have identified consistent tomato supply as one of the critical factors necessary for the factory's long-term success.

The latest visit by Nutrifood Ghana follows a recent inspection tour of the facility by Hon. Nabwomya and the subsequent publication by the Talensi District Assembly highlighting the factory's condition, challenges and investment potential.

The growing interest shown by private investors is being viewed as a positive sign for efforts to restore one of Ghana's historic agro-processing facilities and unlock the economic potential of the Talensi District.

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