The Food and Beverages Association of Ghana (FABAG) has issued a blunt ultimatum to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, demanding urgent action to resolve the country’s tomato supply crisis or risk losing its relevance.
In a strongly worded statement on Monday, FABAG said the Ministry has no justification for its existence if Ghana cannot produce tomatoes within 60 to 90 days.
The Association expressed “strongest concern and disappointment” over the crisis triggered by Burkina Faso’s ban on tomato exports. It said the situation has exposed “dangerous weakness, poor planning, and policy failure within Ghana’s agricultural sector.”
FABAG described it as unacceptable that Ghana continues to depend on another country for a basic food commodity despite having vast agricultural resources.
“It is completely unacceptable that a country with vast agricultural land, irrigation dams, agricultural colleges, research institutions, extension officers, and a full Ministry of Food and Agriculture cannot produce enough tomatoes to feed its own population and must depend on another country for such a basic food commodity,” the statement said.
The Association stressed that tomatoes are a short-cycle crop and can be harvested within two to three months under proper conditions.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com
