Ghana spends at least US$168 million annually on fresh and processed tomato imports, while more than 99 percent of the country’s ginger demand is now met through imports, researchers at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) have disclosed.
The figures expose the scale of Ghana’s dependence on imported horticultural products and the foreign exchange cost of gaps in domestic agricultural production.
The researchers disclosed the figures during the second session of the 2026 Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MEST) Visibility Webinar Series, held under the theme “CSIR’s Interventions on Tomato and Ginger.”
Ghana meets less than 20% of tomato demand locally
Dr Michael Kwabena Osei, Principal Research Scientist and vegetable breeder at the CSIR Crop Research Institute, said Ghana’s annual demand for fresh and processed tomatoes exceeds 1.4 million metric tonnes.
However, local production accounts for only about 15 to 18 percent of the country’s total requirement.
The production shortfall means Ghana relies heavily on imports to meet consumer and industrial demand.
Fresh tomato imports, mainly from Burkina Faso, are estimated at between 100,000 and 120,000 metric tonnes annually, costing the country about US$18 million.
Ghana also imports significant quantities of processed tomato products, mainly from China and Europe.
These processed products are estimated to represent between 400,000 and 450,000 tonnes of raw tomatoes, with an annual import bill of approximately US$150 million.
Together, fresh and processed tomato imports cost Ghana about US$168 million every year.
Dry season worsens Ghana’s tomato import dependence
The country’s dependence on imported tomatoes is particularly pronounced during the dry season.
More than 60 percent of fresh tomato imports enter Ghana between November and April, when domestic production falls sharply.
Dr Osei said the situation is a reflection of Ghana’s inability to produce sufficient quantities of tomatoes throughout the year, despite having substantial agricultural potential.
Ghana has more than 400,000 hectares of arable land suitable for tomato production.
Yet average yields remain between seven and 10 tonnes per hectare, compared with potential yields of between 20 and 80 tonnes per hectare when farmers have access to improved varieties and better agronomic practices.
Poor seed access, irrigation and diseases hold farmers back
Researchers identified several factors contributing to Ghana’s low tomato productivity.
These include:
Poor access to quality planting material
Limited irrigation facilities
Declining soil fertility
Pests and diseases
Weak extension support
Low adoption of improved production practices
The researchers said addressing these constraints could significantly increase domestic tomato production and reduce the country’s reliance on imports.
More than 85% of tomato seed is commercial hybrid seed
Ghana’s dependence on imported agricultural inputs is also a concern for the tomato sector.
According to Dr Osei, more than 85 percent of tomato seed planted in Ghana is commercial hybrid seed.
The dependence on commercial hybrid seed increases production costs for farmers and could expose the sector to external supply and pricing pressures.
“A country that imports its seed will always import its food,” Dr Osei said.
Underused irrigation schemes limit year-round production
The CSIR researchers also identified the underutilisation of existing irrigation infrastructure as a major barrier to year-round tomato production.
Ghana has 22 public irrigation schemes covering about 15,000 hectares, but only around 9,000 hectares are currently in use.
Improving the utilisation of these schemes could enable farmers to produce more tomatoes during the dry season, potentially reducing the seasonal import gap.
Ghana’s ginger dependence exceeds 99%
The situation in the ginger sector is even more severe.
Dr Osei said Ghana’s demand for ginger increased from approximately 18,000 tonnes in 2020 to between 30,000 and 32,000 tonnes in 2025.
However, domestic production suffered a major setback following a bacterial wilt outbreak in 2022.
The disease severely affected ginger farms and contributed to a sharp decline in local production.
As a result, more than 99 percent of Ghana’s ginger requirement is now met through imports, according to the CSIR researchers.
Ghana spends $500,000 on imported ginger
Ghana currently spends approximately US$500,000 annually on ginger imports.
The main sources include China, Nigeria and Burkina Faso.
The sharp increase in national ginger demand, combined with the decline in local production, has made the country increasingly reliant on external suppliers.
Researchers say restoring domestic ginger production will require effective disease management, quality planting material and stronger support for farmers.
CSIR interventions target tomato and ginger production
The CSIR says research and innovation can play a key role in reversing Ghana’s dependence on imported tomatoes and ginger.
For tomatoes, increasing yields, improving access to quality seed and making better use of irrigation infrastructure could help bridge the production gap.
For ginger, controlling bacterial wilt and ensuring farmers have access to healthy planting materials will be critical to rebuilding the sector.
The figures presented by the researchers underline the economic opportunity available to Ghana if domestic production can be expanded.
With US$168 million spent annually on tomato imports and more than 99 percent of ginger demand met through imports, closing these production gaps could reduce pressure on foreign exchange while creating opportunities for farmers, processors and other players across the agricultural value chain.
