Farmers Challenge Ministers

Tomato farmers in the Upper East Region have denied reports that they are unable to provide the quantity of tomatoes required to test-run the rehabilitated Pwalugu tomato factory, near Bolgatanga.

They said this in a press statement in reaction to a newspaper publication that quoted Mr Alan Kyerematen, Minister of Trade, Industry, Private Sector and PSI, as saying that the factory was facing production difficulties because it was not getting the right quantities of raw materials for its smooth running.

The Minister was quoted as saying that the farmers were unable to meet the demand for 300 tonnes of tomatoes to test-run the new machines and he asked them to come together as a group to enhance their production levels.

But the farmers said they are well organized and capable of utilizing over 3,000 hectares available for cultivation for the local and export markets.

The statement, signed by the secretary to the Tomato and Rice Farmers Network, Asuah Abdulai, said, "We have been and remain uncomfortable with the way issues concerning the factory are being handled.

This is because as at now, nobody seems to know anything about the operations of the factory yet the poor farmer who is being denied information is being accused of lack of capacity to produce the required quantity".

It said the test production was done during the rainy season and it was impossible for such large scale production of tomato to be undertaken in the region.

"It is, therefore, unfair to deliberately blame farmers in the region of being incapable of supplying the factory with tomatoes."

"As we speak now, we do not know the type of seed specimen that is appropriate for the plant and efforts made by our executives and Trade Aid Integrated, our collaborators, to get the necessary information about the operations of the factory, have failed," the statement said.

During a farmers’ forum in July this year, the farmers called on the government to come out with details of the re-opening of the factory.

They contended that there was little information about the factory and said when the Regional Co-ordinating Director was contacted, he also said he did not have much information about the factory’s operations.

Known as the Northern Star Tomato Company, the factory became defunct in 1989, after it had been placed on the divestiture list.