Ghana’s push to reduce its dependence on imported tomatoes is facing a new challenge as farmers in the Keta area of the Volta Region struggle to find buyers for a bumper harvest, exposing gaps in storage, processing and market access.
Farmers cultivating irrigated tomato farms around Woe, Abor, Tegbi and nearby communities in Anloga say production has increased by as much as 40 per cent compared with last year, following improved weather conditions and better farming practices.
However, the increase in output has not been matched by stronger demand or adequate post-harvest infrastructure, leaving farmers with large volumes of tomatoes that are either going unsold or being left unharvested.
The situation has pushed prices sharply down, with farmers now receiving about GH¢400 to GH¢450 for a standard basket that previously sold for more than GH¢800 during the lean season.
Municipal Director of Agriculture, Emmanuel Tetteh, said the increased supply had benefited consumers through lower prices but was creating serious financial pressure for farmers.
For farmers who invested heavily in seeds, labour, fertiliser and irrigation, the price decline threatens to turn a productive season into a loss-making one.
More Tomatoes, But Not Enough Markets
The Keta situation highlights a structural problem within Ghana’s tomato industry: increasing domestic production does not automatically translate into higher farmer incomes when the country lacks sufficient systems to absorb and preserve surplus output.
Traders’ trucks are purchasing portions of the harvest, but farmers say the available buyers cannot absorb the volume being produced.
Wonder Awoworyi, a tomato farmer at Woe, said improved weather and access to drought-resistant seedlings had contributed significantly to the strong harvest.
“My farm alone has produced over 20 baskets this season,” he said.
He said the good harvest had also attracted some young people into tomato farming, but warned that persistent difficulties in selling produce could discourage them from remaining in agriculture.
The Municipal Director of Agriculture attributed the improved production partly to closer extension support, including training in integrated pest management, appropriate farming practices and the use of organic fertiliser.
Import Dependence Meets Local Surplus
The glut comes at a time when Ghana is seeking to reduce its vulnerability to imported tomatoes.
On March 16, 2026, Burkina Faso suspended exports of fresh tomatoes to Ghana, briefly exposing the country’s dependence on its northern neighbour for dry-season supplies.
The Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana estimates that Burkina Faso supplies up to 90 per cent of Ghana’s dry-season tomato requirements. The export restriction was lifted on April 2 following discussions between the two governments.
Despite the temporary disruption, the underlying supply gap remains significant.
Food and Agriculture Minister Eric Opoku has estimated Ghana’s annual tomato requirement at about 805,000 tonnes, against domestic production of approximately 510,000 tonnes.
He has also said about 30 per cent of local tomato production, equivalent to roughly 153,000 tonnes, is lost after harvest.
The experience of farmers in Keta demonstrates how such losses can occur even when farmers successfully increase production.
Storage And Processing Remain Critical
For traders, farmers and agricultural experts, the immediate solution is to create additional channels for absorbing surplus tomatoes.
Akua Dufie, a trader at Keta Central Market, called on the National Food Buffer Stock Company and the school feeding programme to purchase directly from farmers.
She also advocated investment in processing plants and improved cold storage facilities to prevent farmers from being forced to sell at distressed prices whenever production rises.
Felix Kwabla Gbekor, Keta secretary of the Southern Sector Vegetable Farmers and Markets Association, said farmers could lose their motivation to expand production if they repeatedly faced a weak market after harvesting.
Agriculturalist Aaron Gadagbi similarly called for expanded state purchasing arrangements to provide a more reliable market for farmers and reduce post-harvest losses.
Tomato Strategy Targets Import Bill
The calls come as Ghana is developing measures to strengthen the domestic tomato value chain.
The Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana’s National Tomato Production Strategy for 2026 to 2030 proposes the construction of 50 cold storage facilities with a combined capacity of 150,000 tonnes.
The strategy also seeks to reduce Ghana’s tomato paste import bill from more than US$100 million annually to US$20 million by 2030.
The Chamber estimates that Ghana currently spends between GH¢650 million and GH¢760 million each year on imports of fresh tomatoes and tomato paste.
The figures point to a major disconnect in the sector: Ghana can experience shortages and spend heavily on imported tomatoes while farmers in producing areas struggle to sell their own harvest.
From Production To A Reliable Market
In March, Mr Opoku said a rehabilitated irrigation scheme had made 500 hectares available for tomato production, with buyers signing agreements with farmers to guarantee purchases.
Such arrangements could become increasingly important as Ghana expands irrigated agriculture and encourages farmers to increase production.
For farmers in Keta, however, the immediate lesson from the bumper harvest is that increasing production must be matched by investment in storage, processing, organised purchasing and reliable market linkages.
Without those systems, a successful harvest can quickly become a financial burden for farmers, even as consumers and the wider economy continue to spend significant amounts on imported tomato products.
