COVID-19: Continuous Closure Of Borders Causing Mango Farmers Huge Loses – President

Mango farmers at Somanya in the Eastern Region say they are losing millions of Ghana Cedis for lack of ready market for their produce as a result of COVID-19.

The president of the Yilo Krobo Mango Farmers Association Mr. Gideon Kwame Mokomi speaking to Somanya based Agric radio station, Rite 90.1 FM, said mango farmers in the area rely on companies like HPW Fresh & Dry Ltd, Blue Skies and Bomart for their market, which are not forthcoming following closure of the boarders.

“We are forced to depend on the local market but cannot meet all the supply.  Less than 10% of the total produce were sold, however the whole farm is going waste thus the need for urgent attention to arrest the situation,” Mr. Kwame said.

  Control over pricing of farm produce has always being the bane for local producers, giving retailers the advantage to dictating price and quantity to the farmer.

Lamenting the challenges of mango farmers, Mr. Kwame called for collaborative effort to put measures in place to transform the fortunes of the sector.

 Prior to 2016 General Elections, industrialization campaign promises including ‘One District One Factory’ by then candidate Akufo-Addo were some of the flagship messages ringing on the minds of Ghanaian populace.

But almost four years after capturing power, Mr. Kwame Gideon says government’s arrangement to build mango processing factory for his Somanya area to avoid post-harvest loses has not being fulfil, despite several calls.

 “We are waiting for the government’s flagship program 1D1F to kick start in Yilo Krobo because we have waited a lot without hearing anything from them, the assembly has assured but they have not involved us in the planning so we don’t know what they are doing now,” he said.

Mr. Bokomi who could not hide the effect of Bacterial Black Spot (BBS) and the Fruit Flies invasion said “the outbreak needs national intervention and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture must act fast to fight the canker“

Explaining the impact of BBS, he said when affects your mango farm, spots and cracks appears on the fruit and eventually drops.

 He also calls for holistic security measures since mango theft is on the rise after security measures deployed by farmers has not curtail the situation.

Meanwhile Yilo Krobo Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Isaac Otsin urged farmers to liaise with the law enforcement agency to deal with the thieves.

He accused farm labourers as involving in the increase theft, but appealed to farm owners to desist from shielding them when they are arrested.  

By: Austin Ofori Addo/ritefmonline.org