It is a disheartening situation for tomato farmers in Ziope traditional area of Agotime Ziope district in the Volta as a crate of tomatoes sells at GHC30.00 as at Wednesday, 15th August,2018. A situation that they mainly blamed on lack of a tomato factory in the vicinity to serve as an alternative means to get their produce sold without fear of post harvest losses.
Ziope is a farming community comprises of many villages in Agotime Ziope District. It is noted for producing many farm produces, such as maize, cassava, okro, pepper, tomato, garden aggs into the central markets of Ghana and beyond and tomato is one of the largest they produce. This community celebrates annual Farm Festival dubbed “AGBLEZÔ to enhance agricultural development in the community.
According to the angry farmers who spoke to www.mynewsgh.com, Ziope produces over 5,000 crates of tomatoes on daily basis but the prices are not determined by them rather the buyers. Meanwhile, these purchasers do not turn up in their numbers so if you do not sell to them on their own comfort prices, you have no place to sell your produce and it ends up rotting on the farm. A situation which always subjected them to post harvest losses.
Mr. Gati Promise, one of the concerned farmers who spoke to www.mynewsgh.com said they made their plights known to the regional minister, Dr Archibald Yaw Letsa and the DCE Dr David Dickson Dzokpe whom both promised to construct a factory in the area to ease the burden but they are yet to see any signs.
Mr Gati further releaves the chiefs and the people are willing to give land to any invester who is ready to establish tomato factory in the area to avoid post harvest losses.
“The community is ready to provide land to any invester who is ready to establish tomatoes factory in the community” he stated emphatically.
The farmers are appealing to the government and other authorities to strongly consider establishing a tomato factory in the area as part of its flagship project, One District One Factory and regulate activities of these emptors to enhance economic development.
Source: www.mynewsgh.com
