The seasonal nature of mango farming has left both farmers and fruit processors in Ghana in distress, as the farmers complain of a lack of markets in the harvest season. This is because most farmers in the country produce only one variety of mango, which causes an oversupply of the fruit which is beyond the capacities of local processors.
Mango farmers across the country lose tonnes of produce to rot when there is a glut. A report by Joseph Baidoo-Williams, Director/Consultant at Project Management Experts (PME) Ltd, states that over US$66million worth of mangoes are lost annually by the farmers.
“The fruit processors are not able to take all that we produce. Normally they also complain that the farmers are not able to supply them with enough mangoes,” Obed Amevor, General Secretary of the Yilo Krobo Mango Farmers Association told the B&FT.
“But we have also realised they do not have the capacity to buy. Most of the farmers are GLOBALGAP certified, meaning they produce to the required quality standard,” he said.
The only solution, according to Daniel Komayire, an Agronomist at HBW Komayire, is for farmers to plant other varieties that have a longer planting period so that the agro-processors can source their raw materials locally at the time they need them.
source: ghanaweb.com
