Ada farmers call for probe into dying tomato seedlings 

Tomato farmers in the Ada East and West districts of the Greater Accra Region have called on the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) to investigate the widespread dying of tomato seedlings following transplantation on farms.

The farmers said the reported losses had raised concerns about the prospects of the 2026 farming season, with investments in seeds, farm inputs and labour already affected.

They appealed to Mr Eric Opoku, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, to constitute a technical team comprising crop scientists, certified seed inspectors and plant pathologists to assess the affected farms and determine the cause of the dying seedlings.

The farmers also want the investigation to establish the source and quality of the affected seed batches and recommend measures to prevent similar occurrences.

Mr Bernard Mawutor Ametepe, a local geographer who spoke on behalf of some affected farming communities, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the premature death of transplanted seedlings had created uncertainty among farmers about the season's prospects.

Mr Ametepe said the affected farmers had followed recommended agronomic practices in preparing and transplanting the seedlings, raising concerns about the viability or quality of the seeds used.

He stated that the reported damage affected both smallholder and commercial farmers in communities including Kasseh, Koluedor, Tehey, Luhour and Dorgobom.

He said the losses could have serious financial consequences for farmers, particularly those who had borrowed to finance their operations.

“To finance the 2026 planting season, many farmers secured loans through local rural banks and microfinance institutions. With seed, input and labour investments rendered unrecoverable, farmers face imminent distress and long-term indebtedness,” he said.

Mr Ametepe said continued crop failures could affect household income, food security, and the domestic tomato supply chain.

He added that repeated losses could discourage young people from entering farming and agribusiness, with possible implications for future agricultural production.

Mr Ametepe noted that concerns about the quality of tomato seed stock had reportedly persisted in parts of the area for about 15 years, making a comprehensive investigation necessary to determine whether there were weaknesses within the seed supply chain.

He urged MoFA to collaborate with accredited seed suppliers, agro-dealers, the Ada Tomato Farmers Association, and other relevant stakeholders to trace the source of the affected seeds and determine whether any quality-control breaches occurred.

He said the affected communities were prepared to cooperate with any investigation by providing access to farms and relevant information to assist authorities in determining the cause of the seedling deaths.

He appealed for urgent intervention to prevent further losses and protect the livelihoods of tomato farmers in the two districts.

GNA