Ghana must treat Burkina Faso’s decision to halt tomato exports as a critical wake-up call to address deep-rooted weaknesses in its agriculture sector, Dr. Frank Ackah, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Cape Coast, has said.
According to Ackah, the move by Burkina Faso was expected, given its long-standing investments in agro-processing and value addition. He explained that the country has, over time, shifted from exporting raw produce to processing a significant share of its tomatoes domestically, an approach Ghana failed to anticipate and plan for.
“When we heard that Burkina Faso was processing, we should have been mindful and started planning ahead of time,” he said.
The export restriction has disrupted tomato supply into Ghana, but Ackah believes it should be seen less as a shock and more as a signal for policy correction. He noted that Burkina Faso’s strategy reflects a broader trend among African economies seeking to retain value locally rather than depend on raw commodity exports.
While government has pointed to irrigation expansion as a solution to boost local production, Ackah argued that Ghana’s challenges run deeper. He highlighted poor seed quality, weak resistance to pests and diseases, and a disconnect between local production and market preferences as key constraints.
“Increasing production is not just about building irrigation facilities… it is about the use of quality seeds,” he said.
He explained that tomatoes from Burkina Faso are often preferred in Ghanaian markets because they are more durable, have longer shelf lives, and are better able to withstand pests and diseases. In contrast, many locally grown varieties are highly susceptible to conditions such as southern blight, a soil-borne disease that significantly reduces yields.
Ackah stressed that addressing these challenges requires stronger investment in agricultural research, particularly in developing improved, disease-resistant varieties that also meet trader and consumer preferences. He also underscored the importance of strengthening extension services to better equip farmers with the knowledge and tools needed to improve productivity.
Beyond production issues, Ackah warned of a growing structural concern: declining interest in agricultural education. He observed that enrolment in agriculture-related programmes remains low at universities, including the University of Cape Coast, as students increasingly gravitate toward business and humanities disciplines.
He attributed this trend partly to the absence of agriculture in the basic school curriculum, arguing that early exposure is critical to building long-term interest and capacity in the sector. He also pointed to the decline of technical training pathways, particularly in horticulture, where institutions and programmes that once supported skills development have weakened over time.
“If we don’t do the research, we will not get anywhere. If we don’t get good varieties, we will not get anywhere,” he warned.
In his view, Ghana’s response to the tomato supply disruption must go beyond short-term fixes and instead focus on building a research-driven, market-oriented agricultural system, supported by education reforms and stronger institutional backing.
