The Executive Director of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG), Bismark Owusu Nortey, has attributed Ghana’s recurring tomato shortages and seasonal gluts to deep structural weaknesses within the country’s agricultural system.
Speaking in an interview on Joy FM’s Midday News on Monday, February 23, Mr Nortey described the situation as multifaceted, stressing that Ghana’s inability to produce enough tomatoes year-round is not due to farmers’ lack of effort but to systemic constraints.
“As a country, we rely on a short period where we go into a lot of production. During that period, we experience glut because we do not have adequate storage facilities,” he explained.
He noted that the situation sharply reverses during the long dry season, when farming activities significantly reduce due to limited irrigation infrastructure. During this lean period, traders are compelled to import tomatoes from neighbouring countries, particularly Burkina Faso, to meet domestic demand.
Mr. Nortey further highlighted the high cost and limited availability of improved seed varieties as another major barrier to increased production. He said many smallholder farmers cannot afford quality seeds, which affects yields and consistency.
Storage challenges, he added, continue to worsen the cycle of waste and scarcity. In periods of bumper harvests, the lack of cold storage facilities leads to significant post-harvest losses. Yet, during the lean season, there are no reserves to stabilise supply and prices.
“We do not have adequate systems where we can store tomatoes in cold stores and push them out during the lean season,” he stated.
He emphasised that without strategic investment in storage, irrigation, and affordable inputs, Ghana will continue to oscillate between excess and scarcity — undermining food security and farmer incomes.
His comments come amid rising tomato prices across several markets in Accra following last week’s deadly attack on Ghanaian traders in neighbouring Burkina Faso. Market women say the disruption in cross-border supply has triggered shortages, pushing prices upward and leaving many consumers struggling to cope with the increasing cost.
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Source:
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