The Food and Beverages Association of Ghana (FABAG) has issued a strong ultimatum to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, calling for immediate intervention to address the country’s tomato supply crisis or risk losing its relevance.
In a sharply worded statement released on Monday, FABAG stated that the Ministry would have no justification for its existence if Ghana is unable to produce tomatoes within a 60 to 90-day period.
The Association expressed its “strongest concern and disappointment” over the situation, which it said was triggered by a tomato export ban from Burkina Faso. According to FABAG, the crisis has revealed “serious weaknesses, poor planning, and policy failures within Ghana’s agricultural sector.”
FABAG described it as unacceptable that a country with extensive agricultural resources continues to depend on another nation for a basic food commodity such as tomatoes.
“It is completely unacceptable that a country with vast agricultural land, irrigation dams, agricultural colleges, research institutions, extension officers, and a full Ministry of Food and Agriculture cannot produce enough tomatoes to feed its own population and must depend on another country for such a basic food commodity,” the statement said.
The Association emphasised that tomatoes are a short-cycle crop that can be cultivated and harvested within a relatively short period under the right conditions.
“It is an agricultural fact, not a theory, that tomatoes can be produced within two (2) to three (3) months,” FABAG stated, adding that with proper irrigation and suitable seed varieties, harvesting can begin within 60 to 90 days after planting.
It argued that any suggestion that Ghana cannot quickly resolve the shortage reflects a failure in leadership.
“Therefore, any claim that Ghana cannot solve tomato shortages quickly is simply an admission of policy failure, planning failure, and leadership failure,” the statement added.
FABAG maintained that the country possesses all the necessary resources, including fertile land, irrigation infrastructure, farmers, unemployed youth, research institutions, and access to inputs and mechanisation.
“If after all these resources, Ghana still cannot produce tomatoes to feed its people, then the problem is not farmers, not land, not climate, but the problem is leadership and policy direction,” it stated.
The Association further warned that reliance on imports for such a staple commodity presents a national security concern.
“Depending on another country for a basic food item like tomatoes is not just an agricultural issue but a national security risk,” it cautioned.
FABAG is therefore calling for urgent emergency interventions, including the rollout of a national tomato production programme, rapid distribution of seeds, subsidised agricultural inputs, activation of irrigation systems, mobilisation of youth, and increased support for processing and storage.
It also urged that the country should achieve tomato self-sufficiency within one year.
FABAG stressed that immediate action is required to address the issue.
“The time has come for Ghana to move from policy speeches to food production results,” the statement said.
The Association concluded by issuing a clear ultimatum to the Ministry.
“If within two to three months the Ministry cannot organise tomato production under irrigation across the country, then the government must seriously consider restructuring the Ministry into a Production-Focused Agricultural Authority with clear targets and accountability.”
