Ghana to experience tomato glut in 3–4 months

Minister for Food and Agriculture Eric Opoku has said Ghana is likely to record a surplus of tomatoes within the next three to four months as the government intensifies efforts to expand local production and cut reliance on imports.

Appearing before Parliament’s Committee on Assurances on Thursday, July 9, the Minister said ongoing interventions under the government’s agricultural programme are expected to substantially increase tomato output nationwide.

To minimise post-harvest losses, Mr Opoku disclosed that the government is establishing an off-take system to ensure farmers have a ready market for their produce. He added that engagements are also underway with tomato processing companies to purchase the anticipated excess harvest.

The Minister further revealed that the government is investing in solar-powered boreholes to support all-year-round irrigation, allowing farmers to cultivate tomatoes beyond the usual production season.

“We have put in place a lot of measures and within the next three to four months, the results will be there for everyone to see. This is another big assurance. We are anticipating a glut of tomatoes in the coming months and are thinking about how we can get processors to off-take from our farmers. We are doing a lot of solar-powered boreholes across the country,” he said.

Mr Opoku expressed optimism that the interventions would boost domestic tomato production, create reliable market opportunities for farmers and progressively reduce Ghana’s dependence on imported tomatoes while advancing the country’s food security objectives.