Kumasi: Tomato traders at the Asafo and Roman Hill markets in Kumasi have appealed to the government to implement urgent measures to revive Ghana's tomato industry to ensure year-round local production, stabilise prices, and reduce dependence on imports. The traders said sustained investment in the sector would guarantee a stable supply of tomatoes, improve marketing opportunities, and strengthen food security across the country.
According to Ghana Web, the traders observed that although Kumasi remained one of the country's major commercial centres for tomato trading, declining local production had forced many traders to rely on supplies from neighbouring countries, particularly during periods of scarcity. They noted that the shortage of tomatoes this year has been worsened by heavy rains, which destroyed tomato farms in major producing areas, leading to reduced supplies and sharp increases in prices. Traders who previously travelled to Burkina Faso for tomatoes were unable to do so, worsening the supply situation.
The decline in local production has been attributed to rising production costs, recurrent pest and disease outbreaks, inadequate irrigation facilities, and unpredictable weather conditions, compelling many farmers to reduce their acreage or abandon tomato cultivation altogether. Ama Agyeiwaa, a trader at the Asafo Market, highlighted the impact of the shortage on traders, restaurants, chop bars, food vendors, and households reliant on fresh tomatoes for daily meals.
Agyeiwaa appealed for expanded irrigation infrastructure in major tomato-growing communities to support year-round cultivation and reduce reliance on rainfall. She also called for increased access to improved, disease-resistant tomato seeds and affordable fertilisers to help farmers increase productivity and improve the quality of their produce. Ataa Yaa, another trader, urged investment in technologies that enable tomato cultivation during the rainy season, citing the necessity of continuous production.
The traders further appealed for improvements in road infrastructure linking farming communities to major markets to reduce transportation costs and minimise post-harvest losses. They called for modern cold storage facilities to preserve fresh tomatoes and advocated for developing a vibrant tomato processing industry to provide a ready market for farmers and protect them against price fluctuations.
Additionally, the traders urged financial institutions to design affordable credit facilities for tomato farmers and market women to expand their businesses and improve productivity across the value chain. They encouraged young people to venture into commercial tomato farming, emphasizing that government support through mechanisation, irrigation, and access to credit would make the sector more attractive and profitable.
The traders also recommended backyard tomato cultivation to help households supplement supplies during periods of scarcity. They appealed to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to strengthen extension services by intensifying farmer education on climate-smart agriculture, modern production techniques, and effective pest and disease management. The traders emphasised the need for stronger collaboration among farmers, traders, processors, and transport operators to improve efficiency across the tomato value chain and ensure a consistent supply of the commodity throughout the year.