Prince Atta Boadu, a Ghanaian tomato farmer, has highlighted the growing preference for tomatoes imported from Burkina Faso.
According to Boadu, local traders favour the Burkinabe produce because it is perceived to be of higher quality than those grown in Ghana.
He noted that Ghanaian traders are, ironically, the primary buyers of Burkina Faso’s tomato exports.
Mr Boadu explained that traders often describe Ghanaian tomatoes as too watery with a short lifespan.
In contrast, tomatoes from Burkina Faso can remain fresh for over a week, making them more commercially viable.
This quality gap has led to devastating losses for local farmers, he lamented.
He shared a recent experience where a company expressed interest in their harvest but ultimately declined the purchase, citing the “watery and poor quality” of the Ghanaian crop.
Consequently, many farmers watch their harvested produce go to waste due to a lack of buyers.
While Ghanaian farmers have the capacity to grow the same high-quality varieties found in Burkina Faso, the cost of the seeds is expensive.
“The seeds are expensive. You need more than GH₵2,000 to purchase about half of a milk tin’s worth, and after growing, it will not even cover an acre of tomatoes. So, we need the support of the government to purchase the seeds so we can also grow them in Ghana and reduce importation.”
Prince Atta Boadu also revealed a shocking disparity between farm-gate prices and market retail prices.
He noted that farmers often sell a box of tomatoes for as low as GH₵100, yet these same boxes are sold at “exorbitant prices” once they reach the various city markets.
Despite these challenges, the potential for self-sufficiency in Ghana’s tomato industry remains high.
Mr Boadu said, “There are approximately 300 acres of land in Akomadan specifically suited for tomato production, and farmers have the capacity to grow and harvest the required quantities within just three months.” With targeted government support—specifically in the form of subsidised, high-quality seeds—local farmers could fully supply the nation’s demand and drastically reduce the current reliance on imports.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
