Farmers in the Anloga‑Avume area of the Volta Region have warned that tonnes of ripe tomatoes are rotting on their farms because of a shortage of harvesting crates and a lack of buyers. The area, which recorded a bumper tomato harvest this season, could supply markets in Anloga, Keta, Accra, Kumasi and beyond, potentially easing Ghana’s dependence on imported tomatoes from Burkina Faso.
Daniel Kad, a farmer and the Assembly Member for the area, told the Ghana News Agency that the abundant harvest represents more than income for individual farmers. He said the situation is a matter of national food security, employment for young people involved in loading, transporting and selling farm produce, and a lifeline for families who rely 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,” Kad said. He explained that the shortage has forced many farmers who borrowed heavily to finance the season to watch their produce deteriorate on the farm beds, as they could not afford the additional illegal charges demanded for the crates.
The crisis has 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 is 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 added.
Several farmers have taken loans in anticipation of proceeds from the harvest and now face the prospect of defaulting on their debts, losing their farmlands and being unable to finance subsequent farming seasons. They have called for immediate action from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Anloga District Assembly, the Volta Regional Minister and the Feed Ghana Programme, demanding intervention within the week to prevent the total collapse of the Avume tomato economy.
Meanwhile, Minister for Food and Agriculture Eric Opoku launched Ghana’s tomato self‑sufficiency initiative at Anloga Anseco Park on September 15, aiming to transform tomato farming into a more profitable and predictable venture for farmers in Anloga and the entire country.
Failure to act swiftly, the farmers warned, would result in huge losses in terms of the commodity and to farmers because of debts incurred for production. They urged the government and corporate organisations to prioritise a quicker purchase of the produce to avoid further waste and economic hardship.
