No market for Upper East tomato farmers

Bolgatanga, May 17, GNA- Tomato farmers in the Upper East Region have appealed to the Government to come out with pragmatic measures to ensure that they get market for their produce.

This was contained in a statement released by the Coalition of Tomatoes Farmers in collaboration with the Trade and Livelihood Coalition, a non-governmental organisation, and signed by Mr. Bismark Ayorogo Adongo, a member of the Tomatoes Farmers.

It stated that whilst appreciating government's concern over the perennial problem farmers' encountered during harvest periods, the authorities certainly needed to do more about their situation. The statement indicated, "This year has been the worst year in the memory of tomato farmers. There have been no factory trucks and there were very few tomato crates. Worst still promises to pay fair prices became a failure, leading to most of the farmers committing suicide". The farmers called on Government to provide them and the general public with information about the revamping of the Pwalugu Tomato Factory.

The statement appealed to government and investors at the Northern Star Company to come to the aid of tomato farmers in the region, by providing them with factory trucks, more crates and purchasing their products at fair prices.