The Assembly Member for Zaare West, Atogutue Ayoroko Sulemana, has called for stronger collaboration between Ghanaian and Burkinabe farmers to improve tomato production in Ghana.
Mr Sulemana, who is also a tomato farmer, emphasised the need for knowledge exchange, urging Ghanaian farmers to learn modern farming techniques from their counterparts in Burkina Faso to enhance productivity and efficiency.
He noted that such collaboration is critical, given Ghana’s long-standing challenges in tomato production and its reliance on imports, particularly from Burkina Faso.
“This collaboration is particularly important given the challenges Ghana faces with tomato production and its reliance on imports, including from Burkina Faso. Learning from Burkina Faso’s farming techniques could help boost local production and reduce dependency on imports,” he said.
His remarks come in the wake of a recent decision by the Burkina Faso government to ban the export of fresh tomatoes in a bid to protect its local processing industry.
The ban is expected to significantly affect Ghana, which has traditionally depended on cross-border tomato trade to meet domestic demand, especially during the lean season.
The development has unsettled traders and farmers, raising concerns about supply shortages and price instability, while also intensifying calls for increased local production.
Mr Sulemana said the situation presents an opportunity for Ghana to rethink its agricultural strategy, stressing that collaboration and knowledge sharing with Burkinabe farmers could help build a more resilient and self-sufficient tomato sector.
He made the remarks during a visit by Bolga FM to his farm in Zaare.
A1 Radio | 101.1mhz | Joseph Napoleon Anaaya | Bolgatanga
