The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) has called on the government to urgently support tomato farmers at irrigation sites, following Burkina Faso’s recent ban on tomato exports.
In a statement dated Tuesday, March 24 2026, the association described the import ban as a “blessing in disguise” and stressed that it presents an opportunity for Ghana to boost domestic tomato production and achieve self-sufficiency.
PFAG warned that failure to act could lead to severe shortages, steep price hikes, and heightened food security risks.
PFAG President Wepia Awal Addo Adugwala highlighted challenges in local tomato production, including heavy reliance on rain-fed agriculture, high input costs, weak market linkages, and significant post-harvest losses.
He said past government interventions have failed to achieve meaningful results despite millions spent on irrigation, storage, and processing facilities.
To address the crisis, PFAG outlined a three-tier approach:
- Short-term: Provide urgent support to farmers in the form of improved seeds, fertilizers, and mechanization services, and develop an emergency strategic response plan to prevent shortages.
- Medium-term: Expand land availability at irrigation sites, enroll and empower more tomato farmers, and establish storage facilities and efficient output market systems.
- Long-term: Expand irrigation infrastructure, including at least one major dam per region, increase irrigable land from 10% to over 50% by 2028, and revamp tomato processing facilities to operate at full capacity.
PFAG emphasized that targeted, value-chain–specific support for critical staples such as tomatoes, rice, maize, and onions is essential to enhance productivity and strengthen food security.
The association assured government of its readiness to collaborate with authorities to implement these measures.
“Ghana cannot continue to provide lump-sum or generalized support for staple foods. We need strategic programs with clear financing, monitoring, and accountability mechanisms,” the statement said.
PFAG urged government to act swiftly to avert a looming crisis in tomato supply and leave a lasting impact on agricultural productivity.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
