Tomato growers in Abansere in the Berekum West District in Ghana report that large volumes of fruit are rotting in the field due to a lack of buyers. Producers state that the market has stalled, leaving them unable to recover production costs incurred earlier in the season.
Growers question why the local tomato factory has not procured fruit, despite directives instructing them to plant specific varieties intended for supply to the facility. Producers are asking the government to establish a marketing channel for the crop and to support the Feed Ghana initiative by limiting tomato imports from neighbouring countries, which they say enter at higher prices.
Chairman of the Berekum Tomato Farmers Association, Mr. Solomon Dwaase, said farmers have invested up to US$5,487 in their farms, yet buyers are offering between US$6.85 and US$10.28 per box, compared to the US$102.77 they previously received. He reports that the current price level does not cover basic production costs.
Another grower, Mr. Frimpong George, said that economic pressure has forced some farmers to leave the area to avoid repaying loans. He added that a few have said they may take their own lives due to mounting debt and losses.
Producers say they require government intervention to ensure that the crop is purchased before further deterioration occurs in the field. They note that without a market outlet, more growers may struggle to continue operating into the next cycle.
A tomato buyer, Madam Ama Serwaa, explained that the current market situation has pushed prices down, leaving buyers with limited or no profit margin.
Source: Modern Ghana
