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The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) is calling on government to take urgent and strategic action following Burkina Faso’s decision to ban the export of tomatoes, warning that failure to respond adequately could trigger a severe food security crisis.
In a statement issued on March 24, 2026, the Association described the development as a “blessing in disguise,” stressing that it presents Ghana with an opportunity to strengthen its domestic tomato production and reduce reliance on imports.
While acknowledging government’s efforts to engage authorities in Burkina Faso, PFAG cautioned that overdependence on external supply sources has long exposed Ghana to vulnerabilities. The group warned that if immediate measures are not implemented, the country could face acute tomato shortages, sharp price increases, and rising inflationary pressures.
PFAG highlighted longstanding challenges within Ghana’s tomato sector, including heavy reliance on rain-fed agriculture, high input costs, weak market linkages, and significant post-harvest losses. According to the Association, these issues have discouraged farmers and limited their capacity to meet national demand despite years of investment in the sector.
The situation, it noted, is further compounded by rising costs of fuel, energy, and agricultural inputs driven by global economic pressures. Combined with existing market gluts in other staple crops such as maize, rice, and cassava, farmers are increasingly disincentivized from expanding production.
To address the looming crisis, PFAG outlined a series of short, medium, and long-term interventions. In the immediate term, the Association urged government to support tomato farmers, particularly those operating within irrigation schemes, with improved seeds, fertilizers, and mechanization services. It also called for the establishment of an emergency response plan to manage potential shortages.
In the medium term, PFAG advocated for the creation of more land banks, expansion of irrigation sites, and improved access to storage facilities such as cold chain infrastructure to reduce post-harvest losses and stabilize market supply.
Looking ahead, the Association emphasized the need for significant investment in irrigation infrastructure, proposing the construction of at least one major irrigation dam in every region. It also called for the rehabilitation and expansion of tomato processing facilities to ensure value addition and reduce waste.
PFAG further urged government to adopt targeted policies for key agricultural value chains, including tomato, rice, onion, cassava, and maize, supported by dedicated financing and accountability mechanisms.
The Association reaffirmed its readiness to collaborate with government to boost production and safeguard the country’s food security but stressed that decisive leadership and a clear strategy are urgently needed.
“We are heading toward a crisis, and the time to act is now,” the statement concluded.
Yaw Boagyan
