Vegetable farmers particularly those in the Upper East Region are not likely to go into tomato production since they no more find the venture lucrative.
According to them, the dysfunctional Northern Star Tomato Factory, at Pwalugu, which is supposed to serve as the main market centre for their tomato produce, speaks volumes of their inability to engage in tomato farming.
This means that tomato queens will now resort to buying tomato in larger quantities from neighbouring Burkina Faso. In view of the situation, experts in the vegetable sector of the region predict a major shortfall in tomato production this year.
Perhaps an indication that Ghanaians are going to buy tomatoes at a higher price on the market.
Radio Ghana's Correspondent, Issac Asare engaged the thoughts of the Upper East Regional Chairman of the Vegetable Farmers Association, Donald Samani on the issue.
Mr Asana said in the face of the challenges, executives of the association made efforts to engage management of the company to discuss issues relating to a price fixing among others.
He said though series of meetings were held to that effect, tomato farmers in the region are still not convinced because they believe the factory is still battling with other challenges in terms of crates, marketing and delays in carting the produce from the farms to the factory, hence their resolve to pull out from the business.
In an interview, the DCE for Talensi, Edward Awunnore, confirmed that the tomato factory at Pwalugu is not fully operational as expected, but said the assembly is in discussions with an investor who has expressed interest in reviving the factory.
The Talensi D C E assured the workers that the investor will arrive in Ghana by next two weeks to assess the situation at the factory, and urged the farmers to exercise restraint.
GBC NEWS END
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