Consumers across Ghana can expect significant relief at the market in the coming weeks, as the Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, John Dumelo, has announced that tomato prices should drop sharply as local farmers begin harvesting their produce.
In a Facebook post on Monday, September 7, 2026, Mr Dumelo stated that increased supply from the ongoing harvest would help ease the current price pressures on households. He also revealed that the government is actively preparing for large-scale dry-season tomato farming from December 2026 to June 2027 to address anticipated supply shortages.
“The prices of tomatoes should see a sharp decline in the coming weeks as Ghanaian farmers have started harvesting,” Mr Dumelo said.
Relief After Months of Price Surges
The announcement comes as welcome news for consumers who have endured months of rising tomato prices. According to the Ghana Statistical Service, fresh tomato prices spiked by 38.8% month-on-month between April and May 2026, with a year-on-year inflation rate of 35.8% . The surge was attributed to supply disruptions, including a tragic terrorist attack on Ghanaian traders in Burkina Faso in February, followed by an export ban in March that restricted tomato inflows into local markets .
The Ban on exports was formally enacted by Burkina Faso’s transitional military government on March 16, 2026, as part of a strategy to supply its domestic processing units under a “popular shareholding scheme” . Although the ban was reversed on April 2, 2026, the damage had already been done, with prices climbing sharply for two consecutive months .
A Deep Structural Dependence
The recent price volatility has once again exposed Ghana’s chronic dependence on imported tomatoes. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) revealed that Ghana spends at least US$168 million annually on fresh and processed tomato imports . More than 60 percent of fresh tomato imports enter the country between November and April, when domestic production falls sharply during the dry season .
Ghana’s annual demand for fresh and processed tomatoes exceeds 1.4 million metric tonnes, yet domestic production meets only about 15 to 18 percent of that requirement . The annual production deficit stands at approximately 300,000 metric tonnes, which is filled through imports .
Ghana’s average yields remain between seven and 10 tonnes per hectare, compared with potential yields of 20 to 80 tonnes per hectare under improved varieties and better agronomic practices . By contrast, Burkina Faso achieves 18 tonnes per hectare . The constraints include poor access to quality seed, limited irrigation, declining soil fertility, pests and diseases, and weak extension support .
Government’s Dry-Season Strategy
Mr Dumelo said the government is focusing particularly on northern Ghana, where preparations for the next dry-season farming cycle are already underway.
“We are also actively preparing for large-scale dry-season tomato farming from December to June next year,” he said.
He explained that lands have already been cleared in several parts of northern Ghana, with the nursing and transplanting of seedlings expected to begin in October. The government has also provided solar-powered boreholes and irrigation inputs to support farmers in increasing dry-season production .
The government has set an ambitious target of producing between 200,000 and 300,000 metric tonnes of tomatoes within the next two to three years, particularly during the dry season . The immediate goal is to cut tomato imports by 20 to 30 percent within two years, with a longer-term vision of halting tomato imports from Burkina Faso entirely within five to six years .
Structural Challenges Remain
Despite the government’s interventions, industry experts warn that structural weaknesses persist. The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) has criticised a long-standing failure to plan for food security, with over 90 percent of tomatoes consumed in Ghana historically sourced from Burkina Faso .
“Unfortunately, our policymakers appear more interested in rhetoric. They speak about these issues, but little action follows,” said Bismark Nortey, Executive Director of PFAG .
Post-harvest losses remain a significant challenge, with approximately 30 percent of local production — about 153,000 metric tonnes — lost annually due to inadequate storage and processing infrastructure . The absence of functional processing facilities means tomatoes rot in abundance during glut periods, only for prices to spike months later during shortages .
Addressing the Value Chain Gap
Agriculture experts say sustained investment in irrigation infrastructure, farmer training, and improved planting materials will be critical to increasing local tomato production and ensuring a stable supply throughout the year . Currently, of the 15,000 hectares covered by 22 public irrigation schemes, only about 9,000 hectares are in use .
More than 85 percent of tomato seed planted in Ghana is commercial hybrid seed, increasing production costs for farmers and exposing the sector to external supply pressures . As Dr Michael Kwabena Osei, Principal Research Scientist at CSIR, warned: “A country that imports its seed will always import its food” .
Government Interventions Underway
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture is implementing a range of targeted support programmes, including the distribution of subsidised high-yield hybrid tomato seeds, technical training for farmers, and the promotion of dry-season cultivation through improved irrigation systems . The government has also launched a research project in partnership with Nigerian firm WAKI Farms to develop tomato varieties yielding up to 20 tonnes per hectare, with US$20 million in financing secured from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the World Bank .
The Vegetable Development Project (VDP), known locally as Yeredua, is Ghana’s flagship agricultural initiative launched in November 2025, aimed at boosting local vegetable production and reducing reliance on imports. The project has developed 60 hectares each in Ahafo and Fanteakwa with mechanisation and water supply systems, while a rehabilitated irrigation scheme has made 500 hectares available for immediate tomato production .
A Long-Term Vision
Mr Dumelo has previously expressed optimism that sustained investment in local farming could make Ghana self-sufficient in tomato production within three to four years . He has also pledged to personally sponsor 20 young farmers interested in dry-season tomato farming as part of a personal pilot project.
“Once the interventions are fully implemented, we anticipate a robust tomato harvest, which will significantly reduce the need for cross-border trade and strengthen the country’s food security,” Mr Dumelo affirmed .
As the current harvest reaches the market, both consumers and farmers alike will be watching closely to see if the promised price relief materialises and whether the government’s long-term strategies can deliver lasting stability to Ghana’s tomato sector.
