The Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, John Dumelo, has revealed Ghana’s plan to produce between 200,000 and 300,000 metric tonnes of tomatoes within the next two to three years, particularly during the dry seasons, as part of efforts to reduce imports.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, John Dumelo explained that the country is boosting tomato production through irrigation, research, and direct support to farmers.
According to the deputy minister, the government is providing direct support to selected farmers, including the installation of solar-powered boreholes and water pumps to enable irrigation on their farms.
“Our yearly demand is almost 800,000 metric tonnes, and by the end of two to three years we should be doing about 200,000 or 300,000 metric tonnes, especially in the dry seasons,” he stated.
He emphasised that the immediate goal is to cut tomato imports by 20 to 30 percent within the next two years.
“By the end of this year we are beginning the third dry season. I am sure we’ll be able to scale up production,” he added.
The deputy minister outlined several irrigation facilities across the country where trials are ongoing with different varieties of tomatoes. He cited specific locations where these trials are underway.
“When you go to the Ashanti Region, at the Komadan irrigation scheme, they are doing some trials there. When you go to the Tono Dam in the north, they are doing some trials there with the FSRP. When you go to Garu, there’s an irrigation facility there where they are also undertaking tomato production,” he said.
Mr Dumelo expressed confidence that with sustained trials and research, Ghana could eventually eliminate tomato imports from neighbouring countries.
“I can assure you that if we continue as we are doing now in terms of the trials and the research and everything we are undertaking, I should think that in about five or six years we should stop the total importation of tomatoes from Burkina Faso and neighbouring countries,” he explained.
