An opportunity for government to rethink its policies towards farmers

Tag : tomato

The Ghana National Tomatoes Producers Federation has written to the
government urging it to temporarily ban the importation of tomatoproducts
into the country, with effect from September 30, 2008 to May 2009.

The letter spotted by CITY&BUSINESS GUIDE at the Ministry ofAgriculture
in Accra, said the ban would prevent tomatoes glut in the country.

Five thousand (5,000) hectares of fresh tomatoes planted in fiveregions
of the country are expected to be harvested in September by the
Federation.

Growers of the vegetable in the Greater Accra, Volta, Ashanti,Brong-Ahafo
and Upper East regions are likely to give the country about 250,000metric
tonnes.

The figure when added up to the countrys annual production of260,000
metric tonnes would bring the total annual production of thecountry to
510,000 metric tonnes.

The situation, according to the Federation, would cause an increasein
fresh tomatoes production in this current season.

With our experience from 2006 where tomatoes importation virtually
crippled our farmers income and created national panic, we are bythis
letter requesting a temporal ban on tomatoes products before the
harvesting season starts from September 30, 2008 to May 2009, theletter
stated.

Although the governments decision to place the ban is beingchallenged by
some importers, the Federation believes it is an opportunity forgovernment
to rethink its policies towards the processing of the foodstuff tosave
farmers the harrowing experiences they go through in marketingtheir
produce.

The Federation said it is time government adopted deliberate andproactive
policies in order to give tomato farmers the necessary push just asis
being done for cocoa farmers.

Data indicate that tomato paste imports stagnated for the most partof the
1990s, but started to rise from 1998. Imports increased from 3,300tonnes
in 1998 to 24, 740 tonnes in 2003, an increase of 650 percent.

However, the market share of local tomatoes has fallen from 92percent to
57 percent during the same period. In absolute terms, growth inlocal
fresh tomato production fell from 215,000 tonnes to 200,000 tonnesduring
the period under review.

Currently, it is estimated that Ghana imports 300 containers oftomato
products from China and other parts of the world.

It is in anticipation of increase in production that we deem itfit to
draw your attention to avoid reoccurrence of tomatoes glut, theletter
concluded.


Source - Guide