Africa-Press – Ghana. Tomato growers in the Techiman North District of the Bono East Region say the uncontrolled importation of raw tomatoes from neighbouring countries, particularly Burkina Faso, is collapsing local production and pushing farmers into heavy debt.
The growers appealed to Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Member of Parliament for Techiman North, and the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry to intervene to save the situation.
Mr Kwasi Douglas, spokesperson for the tomato growers, called on Government to urgently curb the imports and appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to consider establishing tomato processing factories in the area under the 24-hour economy initiative.
The farmers also called on the Crop Research Institute to support them with improved hybrid seedlings similar to the Burkinabe varieties, which they said were less watery and more resilient to climate change.
Speaking in an interview with the media at Tuobodom, the District capital, Mr Douglas said tomato growers in Tuobodom and nearby communities, including Akomadan in the Ashanti Region, needed processing factories to add value to their produce, secure ready markets and attract better prices.
He lamented that due to the lack of ready markets and favourable prices, large quantities of locally produced tomatoes went to waste each year, while buyers preferred tomatoes imported from Burkina Faso.
Mr Douglas said although the price of local tomatoes was pegged at about GH¢200 per box, buyers often negotiated it down to as low as GH¢150.
“We don’t have any other option, so we are forced to sell at such low prices. Otherwise, the tomatoes will go to waste,” he said.
He expressed concern that many farmers who were unable to repay loans were being threatened with legal action by their banks, leaving them distressed and anxious.
“Tomato production is our only source of livelihood. We invest heavily every year, only to see much of our produce go to waste,” Mr Douglas said.
He added that some farmers were contemplating quitting tomato farming but feared they would be unable to repay their debts if they did so.
In the interim, Mr Douglas appealed to the MP to help identify new markets for the tomatoes and urged the Government to prioritise the establishment of a processing factory in the area in the long term.
He said with ready markets and improved prices, tomato production would become more lucrative and help absorb many unemployed youth in the district.
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