The Bolgatanga Municipal Director for the Department of Agriculture, Lantana Osman, has predicted that many farmers in the Upper East Region will cultivate large acres of tomatoes next season.
She attributes this anticipated surge to the monumental demand for tomatoes this year, following an incident in which Ghanaian tomato traders were attacked in Burkina Faso while transporting tomatoes into Ghana.
Ms. Osman likened the sudden spike in tomato prices to “cocaine,” emphasizing the dramatic increase in the commodity’s value.
Speaking to Seidu Mutawakil on A1 Radio’s Day Break Upper East show, she said that over the past six years, she has personally championed tomato production in the region. To support farmers, her department introduced high-value varieties, including Sika and Rajah. Despite early success, challenges with market access and pricing have previously hindered widespread adoption.
However, the current issues surrounding cross-border tomato transport from Burkina Faso, she said, are likely to change that trend. “Currently some of our farmers have produced tomatoes. The few that did tomatoes this year, it is like cocaine,” Ms. Osman said.
She warned that the high demand is expected to drive more farmers into tomato cultivation. “What will happen is that next year, a lot of people will go into tomato production,” she said.
The Agricultural Director called for strategic planning to ensure that the Upper East Region maximizes its available land and resources to produce enough tomatoes to supply the rest of the country.
A1 Radio | 101.1 Mhz | Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith | Bolgatanga
