Ghana to experience tomato glut in 3–4 months – Eric Opoku

The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has projected that Ghana could experience a significant tomato glut within the next three to four months, as government intensifies efforts to increase domestic production and reduce the country's dependence on imported tomatoes.

Speaking before Parliament's Committee on Assurances on Thursday, July 9, 2026, the Minister said ongoing interventions under the government's agricultural transformation agenda are already yielding positive results and are expected to substantially increase tomato production across the country in the coming months.

According to him, the Ministry has implemented a comprehensive strategy that combines improved irrigation, market access and post-harvest management to ensure that increased production translates into higher incomes for farmers rather than excessive losses.

Mr. Opoku said government is already planning ahead for the anticipated bumper harvest by establishing mechanisms to absorb surplus production before it becomes a challenge for farmers.

He disclosed that an off-take system is being developed to guarantee ready markets for tomato producers, while discussions are ongoing with local tomato processing companies to purchase excess produce for processing into tomato paste and other value-added products.

"We have put in place a lot of measures and within the next three to four months, the results will be there for everyone to see. This is another big assurance."

He explained that government is determined to avoid situations where farmers are forced to sell tomatoes at extremely low prices or watch their produce perish because of inadequate market access.

As part of efforts to sustain production beyond the rainy season, the Minister announced that government is investing in solar-powered boreholes across farming communities to improve access to irrigation.

According to him, the initiative will enable farmers to cultivate tomatoes and other crops throughout the year, reducing dependence on rainfall and improving agricultural productivity.

We are anticipating a glut of tomatoes in the coming months and are thinking about how we can get processors to off-take from our farmers. We are doing a lot of solar-powered boreholes across the country."

The irrigation projects form part of government's broader strategy to modernise agriculture through climate-smart farming technologies that enhance food production while improving farmers' resilience to changing weather conditions.

Despite having favourable climatic conditions for tomato cultivation, Ghana continues to import substantial quantities of tomatoes and processed tomato products annually to meet domestic demand.

The Minister said increasing local production remains one of government's key priorities under its agricultural development programme, as higher domestic output will reduce import bills, improve food security and create additional employment opportunities along the agricultural value chain.

He noted that expanding local processing capacity will also add value to agricultural produce, reduce post-harvest losses and strengthen the country's agro-industrial sector.

Mr. Opoku expressed confidence that the interventions currently being rolled out will not only improve tomato production but also increase farmers' incomes by providing reliable markets for their harvests.

He stressed that the Ministry remains committed to supporting farmers with improved irrigation infrastructure, market linkages and value-addition opportunities to ensure sustainable growth within the agricultural sector.

According to the Minister, the government's long-term objective is to build a resilient agricultural economy capable of meeting Ghana's food needs while reducing dependence on imported food products.

The anticipated increase in tomato production is expected to contribute significantly to the country's broader food security agenda, strengthen agribusiness development and support the government's efforts to modernise agriculture through increased investment in irrigation, processing and agricultural infrastructure.