Tomato farmers in Ghana’s Techiman North District of the Bono East Region have raised alarm over the unchecked importation of raw tomatoes from neighbouring countries, warning that the practice is crippling local production and driving farmers deeper into debt.

The farmers stated that imports, particularly from Burkina Faso, have flooded local markets, leaving domestically grown tomatoes unsold or heavily discounted. 

As a result, many growers are struggling to repay bank loans and are facing the prospect of abandoning tomato farming altogether.

Speaking on behalf of the growers, Mr Kwasi Douglas has appealed to the Member of Parliament for Techiman North, Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, and the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry to urgently intervene. 

He also called on President John Dramani Mahama to prioritise the establishment of tomato processing factories in the district under the government’s 24-hour economy initiative.

According to Mr Douglas, the absence of processing facilities has left farmers vulnerable to price manipulation and post-harvest losses, despite the district’s strong production capacity.

Although the official price of locally produced tomatoes stands at approximately GH¢200 per box, farmers claim that buyers routinely force prices down to as low as GH¢150.

“We don’t have any other option. If we don’t sell, the tomatoes will go to waste,” Mr Douglas explained.

He added that many farmers, unable to meet loan repayment obligations, are now being threatened with legal action by their banks, creating widespread anxiety across tomato-growing communities such as Tuobodom and nearby Akomadan in the Ashanti Region.

Beyond market access, the farmers are also calling on the Crop Research Institute to support them with improved hybrid tomato seedlings comparable to Burkinabe varieties, which they say are more resilient to climate stress and less watery.

They believe access to better seeds, combined with local processing capacity, would significantly improve yields, reduce waste, and increase farmer incomes.

The growers stressed that tomato production remains the primary livelihood for many households in the district and has the potential to absorb unemployed youth if supported properly.

“With ready markets and fair prices, tomato farming can be profitable again and provide jobs for young people,” Mr Douglas said.

For now, farmers are urging government authorities to help identify alternative markets in the short term while fast-tracking long-term investments in tomato processing to stabilise the sector and protect rural livelihoods.

Source: Access Agric