Tomato farmers at Abansere in the Berekum West District have appealed to the government to assist in saving their produce from rotting at the farm due to inadequate buyers.
The farmers said they were facing a devastating situation as their produce was rotting in the farms due to a lack of buyers, leaving them struggling to recover their costs.
Farmers question why the local tomato factory could not buy their produce, despite being told to grow specific varieties.
The farmers urge the government to provide a market for their produce, support the “Feed Ghana” initiative, and avoid importing tomatoes from nearby border countries at higher prices.
The chairman of the Berekum tomato farmers, Solomon Dwaase, stated that they have invested as much as GHC 80,000 in their farming activities, but buyers were offering as low as GHC 100 and GHC 150 per box, down from GHC 1,500 previously.
Mr. Frimpong George, a farmer, reports cases of farmers fleeing from the area due to loan defaults and even some threatening to commit suicide.
The farmers appeal to the government to intervene and provide a market for their produce, supporting the “Feed Ghana” initiative.
Mad Ama Serwaa, a buyer, explains that market conditions dictate the low prices, leaving them with minimal profit margins