The third INCiTiS-FOOD e-discussion took place on the Synergy Portal from 7 November to 11 December, and was launched by the University for Development Studies (UDS) Living Lab in Tamale, Ghana. With 14 replies and 56 views, the discussion achieved higher engagement than the previous e-discussion, highlighting the strong interest in addressing post-harvest challenges faced by vegetable farmers.
Building on the practical experiences of tomato producers in northern Ghana, the discussion focused on how successful production can too often be undermined by post-harvest losses, weak market positions, and limited storage or processing options.
From Production Success to Market Vulnerability
UDS opened the discussion by sharing the Living Lab’s success in tomato cultivation, while also drawing attention to a critical bottleneck: what happens after harvest. Tomatoes are highly perishable, and farmers often have no choice but to wait at the farm gate for buyers to arrive. Without storage alternatives, farmers become price takers, frequently accepting very low prices.
In some cases, farmers reported selling tomatoes below cost price simply to avoid total spoilage. This situation not only undermines profitability but also discourages further investment and innovation at the farm level.
Guiding Questions for the Discussion
The e-discussion was structured around four key questions:
- What methods and opportunities exist to better preserve tomatoes and other vegetables?
- Are affordable cooling options based on renewable energy available, and where?
- Are so-called “panic sales” a myth, or do they really happen?
- How can vegetable farmers become more resilient in the face of market and post-harvest risks?
Drying, Processing and Storage: Practical Low-tech Solutions
A central theme of the discussion was the potential of drying and processing tomatoes as low-cost preservation strategies. INCiTiS-FOOD project coordinator Gertrud Buchenrieder shared detailed, practical guidance on sun-drying tomatoes, including preparation, drying conditions, insect protection, and post-drying handling.
She also highlighted the benefits of simple DIY solar dehydrators, which can speed up drying while remaining affordable and accessible, as well as acid pickling as a shelf-stable option. A key message was that drying tomatoes thoroughly and storing them properly can significantly extend shelf life, even without refrigeration.
In response to questions from UDS on storage duration, Gertrud emphasised that uniform and sufficiently low moisture content is essential. When tomatoes are dried to very low moisture levels and stored in airtight containers in cool, dry conditions, they can remain usable for several months. However, under less ideal conditions, storage time may be much shorter.
UDS welcomed these insights, while noting that such measures are often most feasible for small surpluses, and that handling very large volumes of tomatoes remains a major challenge for farmers producing at scale.
Cooling Options: Promise and Limitations
The role of cooling in tomato preservation generated lively debate. Rolf Morgenstern introduced the example of the low-tech “zeer” pot-in-pot refrigerator, which uses evaporative cooling and has reportedly been tested in northern Nigeria at very low cost. While participants found the concept interesting, questions remained about actual storage duration and real-world performance.
Several contributors, including Sabine Desczka and Ranka Junge, argued that tomatoes are among the crops that benefit least from cooling. Cooling can be costly, may alter taste, and is often unaffordable for smallholder farmers. Sabine highlighted that each crop has specific cooling requirements and suggested that, where cooling is considered, innovative business models such as cooling-as-a-service might help reduce costs.
Overall, the discussion leaned towards processing and drying as more realistic and impactful solutions for tomatoes, especially in smallholder contexts.
Panic Sales: Myth or Reality?
Participants strongly agreed that panic sales are not a myth. Aglobe Development Center and Abdul-Elahi Danaa Tomim both confirmed that farmers frequently sell tomatoes at very low prices due to a lack of storage, processing facilities, organised markets, and reliable transport.
Abdul-Elahi emphasised that farmers are not necessarily selling quickly because they need immediate cash, but because they lack the knowledge and facilities to store produce safely. With better storage options and skills, farmers could avoid distress sales and strengthen their bargaining position.
Building Resilience Through Diversification and Knowledge
Several contributions highlighted that resilience goes beyond a single technology. Suggestions included:
- Combining vegetable production with small livestock or aquaponics systems to diversify income streams.
- Investing in drying, packaging, and simple processing to add value and extend shelf life.
- Strengthening knowledge on both post-harvest handling and processing techniques.
Concrete examples were shared, such as solar drying systems capable of preserving tomatoes for 6-12 months when properly managed, and practical recipes for tomato sauce and paste, which can be stored for extended periods when cooked and pasteurised correctly.
The fourth and final e-discussion will be launched after the holidays in the first half of 2026, so make sure to follow our Newsroom, LinkedIn, and Synergy portal for all further updates on e-discussions.
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