Tomato Prices Poised to Drop as Local Harvest Begins, Says Deputy Agric Minister

Tomato prices are expected to drop sharply in the coming weeks as local farmers begin harvesting their crops, easing pressure on the domestic market and improving nationwide availability, Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture John Dumelo announced.

The price relief follows months of severe supply constraints triggered by reduced rainfall across major growing regions. Market data indicates tomatoes recorded the highest price jump among basic foodstuffs in August, with traders reporting that a standard basket surged from 200 Ghanaian Cedi to 700 Cedi, while a smaller paint-container metric rose from 50 Cedi to 150 Cedi compared to last year.To prevent recurrent seasonal shortages, the ministry is preparing a large-scale dry-season farming initiative running from December 2026 to June 2027.

Land clearing is largely complete across selected enclaves in northern Ghana, with seedling nursing and transplanting scheduled to start in October.The government has supplied farmers with solar-powered boreholes and specialized irrigation equipment to ensure year-round cultivation and reduce reliance on rain-fed agriculture. While state officials project a steady decline in retail costs as new harvests hit the market, local traders remain cautious, noting that erratic rainfall patterns could still impact late-season yields.