The Ministry of Food and Agriculture has urged farmers to intensify dry-season farming to boost local production of tomatoes and stabilise food supply, following Burkina Faso’s ban on tomato exports.
The directive by the Burkinabè government announced in a joint statement issued in Ouagadougou imposed an immediate nationwide halt on tomato exports “until further notice” to prioritise domestic supply for local processing industries.
The measure also suspends the issuance of Special Export Authorisations (ASE), effectively shutting down formal export channels. Traders with existing permits have been given a two-week window to complete ongoing transactions before all authorisations are revoked.
Authorities in Burkina Faso have warned that violations will attract sanctions under existing laws, adding that seized consignments will be redirected to local processing factories.
Reacting to the development, Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, John Dumelo, said Ghana must take steps to reduce its reliance on imported tomatoes by strengthening local production.
Speaking in an interview on Joy News on Thursday, March 19, 2026, he expressed optimism that sustained efforts could significantly reduce reliance on imports within a few years.
He acknowledged that Ghana may not immediately stop sourcing tomatoes from Burkina Faso but expressed optimism that sustained investment in local farming could change the situation in the medium term.
“For us, going to Burkina Faso for tomatoes might not end immediately, but once they get encouraged, within three or four years, we should be self-sufficient when it comes to tomato production,” he said.
Additionally, the deputy Agriculture Minister noted that the farmers must scale up dry-season production of tomatoes, promising that the ministry is committed to assisting farmers with whatever it takes to produce tomatoes, especially during this ban.
“I am yet to get the reason why the Burkina Faso government announced the ban and the details that come with it. But last year, I was in the Northern Region, and I urged them to produce tomatoes in the dry season. This dry season, I went back, and most of them are doing just that,” he said.
“I told them to let me know what they need to help them scale up production, especially in the next dry season… The government is committed to helping them to scale up production,” he added.