Volta Region: Crate shortage, lack of buyers leave tonnes of Avume tomatoes to rot

Tomato farmers in the Anloga-Avume area of the Anloga District in the Volta Region have raised the alarm over huge post-harvest losses, as tonnes of ripe tomatoes rot on their farms because of a shortage of harvesting crates and the absence of buyers. The farmers said the area had recorded a bumper tomato harvest this season, describing it as being capable of supplying markets in Anloga, Keta, Accra, Kumasi and beyond, and could ease the country’s reliance on tomato imports from Burkina Faso. Daniel Kad, a farmer and the Assembly Member of the area, told the Ghana News Agency that the abundant harvest represented more than income for individual farmers. He described the situation as a matter of national food security, employment for young people engaged in loading, transporting and selling farm produce, and a lifeline for families who depended on the crop for school fees, medical bills and daily survival. “The immediate cause of the crisis is an acute shortage of crates needed to harvest the tomatoes, compounded by allegations that the few available crates were being controlled by ‘load boys’ who allegedly demand bribes before releasing them to farmers,” he said. He explained that the situation had forced many farmers who had borrowed heavily to finance the season, spending on seeds, fertiliser and labour, to watch helplessly as their produce deteriorated on the farm beds, because they could not afford the additional illegal charges being demanded for the crates. Kad said the crisis had persisted since the previous week, with fresh quantities of tomatoes rotting daily in the absence of buyers, storage facilities or cold rooms to preserve the produce while a market was found. “We are issuing an urgent appeal to buyers, market women, processing companies and exporters across the country and beyond to visit Avume immediately. Our tomatoes are ready for harvest but risked being completely lost without swift intervention,” he said. The farmers further disclosed that several of them had taken loans in anticipation of proceeds from the harvest and now faced the prospect of defaulting on their debts, losing their farmlands, and being unable to finance subsequent farming seasons. They called for immediate action from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Anloga District Assembly, the Volta Regional Minister and the Feed Ghana Programme, and called for immediate intervention within the week to prevent the total collapse of the Avume tomato economy. They stated that failure to act swiftly would result in huge losses in terms of the commodity and to farmers because of debts incurred for the production. The said it was sad that Ghana  continued to import tomatoes despite having the local capacity to produce enough to meet its demand. The farmers emphasised that the renewed call on buyers, processors and exporters, within Ghana and abroad, should be prioritise by the government and various individuals and corporate organisations, for a quicker purchase of the produce. Meanwhile, Mr Eric Opoku, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, among other dignitaries on September 15, held the national launch of Ghana’s tomato self-sufficiency initiative at the Anloga Anseco park. Source: Citi Newsroom