The Ministry of Food and Agriculture has called on Ghanaians to cultivate tomatoes in their backyards to help ease the country’s supply shortfall, following Burkina Faso’s recent export ban.

Minister Eric Opoku said Ghana currently requires about 805,000 metric tonnes of tomatoes annually but produces only 510,000 metric tonnes, leaving a significant deficit. He noted that even small-scale home gardening can contribute meaningfully to closing the gap.

To support this effort, the Ministry is promoting a high-yield tomato variety sourced from Burkina Faso, capable of producing up to 18 metric tonnes per hectare. Mr Opoku assured the public that strategic measures are being implemented to increase production and prevent any major shortages.

As part of broader interventions, the government is collaborating with 81 communities to expand tomato cultivation, with plans to scale up production to 40,000 acres nationwide. Additionally, 413 schools will participate in tomato farming under the FEED Ghana programme, aimed at boosting local supply while educating students on agriculture.

The Minister stressed that active citizen participation will be crucial in stabilising tomato availability and strengthening the country’s food security.