The Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, John Dumelo, has raised concerns over Burkina Faso’s decision to ban tomato exports, saying the government must “further interrogate” the policy and seek clarity on its implications for Ghana.

Speaking on JoyNews Pulse on March 19, Mr Dumelo said he had only recently come across a memo on the development and was yet to verify the full details behind the decision.

“With a ban on the tomato export, it’s something that we need to further interrogate. I read a memo yesterday and [it’s] something that I need to find out whether it’s true and why they’ve banned it,” he said, adding that authorities will engage further to determine the way forward.

His comments come at a critical time, as Burkina Faso has officially banned the export of fresh tomatoes effective March 16, 2026, in a move aimed at boosting local industrialisation and ensuring a steady supply for domestic processing factories.

The policy, which includes the suspension of all Special Export Authorisations, is expected to significantly affect Ghana, which relies on Burkina Faso for about 90% of its tomato supply an annual trade valued at over $400 million. The development has already begun triggering price increases in local markets.

Mr Dumelo linked the situation to government’s ongoing efforts to reduce import dependence through local production, particularly in northern Ghana.

He revealed that he had, over the past year, been engaging farmers across several communities to scale up tomato cultivation, especially during the dry season.

“I went to some communities in the north to encourage them to produce tomatoes in the dry season and when I went back, most of them had listened to the advice and were doing quite well,” he noted.

According to him, areas such as Garu, Zare, Tempane and Talensi recorded encouraging yields, with many farmers already harvesting tomatoes. He added that farmers have expressed interest in expanding production, pending government support.

“I encouraged them to let me know the support that they need to scale up for the next dry season and most of them were extremely excited,” he said.

The Deputy Minister further stressed that while Ghana’s reliance on imports particularly from Burkina Faso may not end immediately, sustained investment in local production could change the outlook within a few years.

“Government is committed to helping them scale up production it might not end almost immediately, but I think that within three or four years, we should be self-sufficient when it comes to tomato production,” he stated.

Mr Dumelo also highlighted ongoing interventions under the West African Food Systems Resilience Programme (FSRP), including pilot projects at the Vea Irrigation Dam in Navrongo and trials in Akumadan, which are expected to boost output.

He expressed optimism that increased production could begin to reflect in the markets by the end of the year, with significant improvements anticipated in 2027.