Grow Your Own Tomatoes, Ghana Government Tells Citizens as Burkina Faso Ban Worsens Shortage

The Ghanaian government has asked citizens to start growing tomatoes in their own backyards as the country faces a severe supply gap worsened by an export ban from neighboring Burkina Faso.

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture made the appeal this week, urging families to take up backyard gardening to help stabilize the nation’s tomato supply. Minister Eric Opoku disclosed that Ghana currently needs 805,000 metric tonnes of tomatoes annually but produces only 510,000 metric tonnes, leaving a deficit of nearly 300,000 tonnes.

The situation became more urgent after Burkina Faso imposed an export ban, cutting off a key source of tomatoes that Ghana has long relied on to supplement local production. The ban has exposed the fragility of Ghana’s food system and its dependence on imports from a single neighbor.

To address the shortage, the government is promoting a high-yield tomato variety originally from Burkina Faso that can produce up to 18 metric tonnes per hectare. Minister Opoku assured the public that measures are being put in place to boost production and prevent future shortages, but he emphasized that citizen involvement is critical to the success of the plan.

The government has identified 81 communities to participate in an expanded cultivation program, with plans to scale up tomato farming to 40,000 acres. In addition, 413 schools will grow tomatoes as part of the FEED Ghana programme, an initiative designed to supplement local supply while teaching children about agriculture and self-sufficiency.

The call for backyard gardens has drawn mixed reactions. Some citizens see it as a practical step toward food security and reducing dependence on imports. Others view it as a sign of government failure to address fundamental gaps in agricultural production and supply chain management. Critics argue that asking families to grow their own food at home shifts the burden of a national crisis onto ordinary citizens who are already struggling with rising costs and economic hardship.

For many Ghanaians, the tomato shortage is not just an inconvenience. Tomatoes are a staple ingredient in Ghanaian cooking, used in stews, soups, and sauces that form the backbone of daily meals. The shortage has already driven up prices at local markets, making it harder for families to afford basic food items.

The government has not announced any immediate imports to fill the gap, instead focusing on boosting local production through community programs and individual efforts. Whether backyard gardens can meaningfully close a 295,000 tonne deficit remains an open question, but officials insist that every small effort counts.

As the dry season continues and the impact of the Burkina Faso ban deepens, many Ghanaians are now being asked to become farmers in their own homes. The success of that strategy will depend not only on how many people take up the challenge but also on how quickly the government can implement its larger scale cultivation plans before the shortage becomes a full blown crisis.

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