Tomato farmers in the Ziope area of the Agortime-Ziope District in the Volta Region are raising alarm over persistent post-harvest losses, warning they may abandon farming altogether if government fails to act.
The farmers said a lack of ready market forces large portions of their produce to rot each year, leaving them frustrated and financially strained.
Michael Agbobli, who cultivates a five-acre tomato farm, described the situation as disheartening.
According to him, the low prices offered by buyers do not reflect the high costs of production. “A crate of tomatoes is being sold for as low as GH₵100. I’ve even refused to harvest some of my crops because it’s just not worth it,” he lamented.
Agbobli appealed for government intervention, calling for the establishment of a tomato processing factory in the district to reduce post-harvest losses and ensure better value for farmers’ efforts.
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Another farmer, Grace Adzolo, expressed similar frustrations, questioning why successive governments had failed to build a factory despite years of promises.
She noted that without such facilities, hardworking farmers remain impoverished. “We need action now. Even a mobile factory would help us reduce the losses and improve our livelihoods,” she stressed.
Responding to the farmers’ concerns, Mawuli Abusah, District Director of the Department of Food and Agriculture, acknowledged that several discussions on establishing a factory had taken place over the years but yielded no results.
He indicated that he had recently engaged an investor who expressed interest in setting up a tomato processing factory at Dabala Junction. The proposed site, he explained, would serve as a central hub for tomatoes produced in Agortime-Ziope, Akatsi North, Anloga, Keta, and parts of Ada East and West districts.
Abusah added that such a project would help curb losses, create jobs, and support the livelihoods of farmers across the region. But there are no specifics yet on timelines for this much-needed project for farmers in Ziope.
