Hweehwee (E/R), Feb 21, GNA – Tomato Farmers Association in Hweehwee in the Kwahu East District of Eastern Region has asked the government to help them improve their production by providing them with farming and irrigation equipment.

According to Mr. George Ankomah, the Association’s President, who spoke to the Ghana News Agency in an interview, the gesture would go a long way in assuring the farmers that they would be able to produce more for ready markets.

He said since the coumtry’s borders were closed, there had been a significant increase in demand for their products, which had improved the farmers’ living standards.

During the harvesting season, he said, over 200 trucks of tomatoes were transported per day to other communities, and urged the government to stop importing tomatoes from Burkina Faso because farmers were ready to produce more in the country.

Mr. Ankomah also urged the government to continue subsidizing fertilizers for farmers so that they can buy and use them on their crops to ensure national food security and export to improve their lot.

Mr Solomon Aboagye, Assembly Member for Hweehwee Electoral Area, praised Mr Bryan Acheampong, Kwahu East Member of Parliament (MP), for dealing with the issue of Fulani herdsmen’s rampant attacks on farmers, which had improved the community’s way of life.

He said the high demand for tomatoes had resulted in the creation of a new industry in that vein.

He said the demand for Tomatoes in the area had created employment for the inhabitants especially the youth.

He therefore appealed to government to establish a Tomato factory as part of the ‘One District, One Factory initiative to enable farmers to produce on large scale.

Some of the farmers called for a reduction in taxes on farm implements and agro supplies, particularly fertilizer and chemicals, which have an impact on the price of their farm produce.

The farmers also appealed for soft loans and other incentive packages to encourage the people, particularly the youth, to accept agriculture as a viable means of economic independence.

GNA

Hweehwee (E/R), Feb 21, GNA – Tomato Farmers Association in Hweehwee in the Kwahu East District of Eastern Region has asked the government to help them improve their production by providing them with farming and irrigation equipment.

According to Mr. George Ankomah, the Association’s President, who spoke to the Ghana News Agency in an interview, the gesture would go a long way in assuring the farmers that they would be able to produce more for ready markets.

He said since the coumtry’s borders were closed, there had been a significant increase in demand for their products, which had improved the farmers’ living standards.

During the harvesting season, he said, over 200 trucks of tomatoes were transported per day to other communities, and urged the government to stop importing tomatoes from Burkina Faso because farmers were ready to produce more in the country.

Mr. Ankomah also urged the government to continue subsidizing fertilizers for farmers so that they can buy and use them on their crops to ensure national food security and export to improve their lot.

Mr Solomon Aboagye, Assembly Member for Hweehwee Electoral Area, praised Mr Bryan Acheampong, Kwahu East Member of Parliament (MP), for dealing with the issue of Fulani herdsmen’s rampant attacks on farmers, which had improved the community’s way of life.

He said the high demand for tomatoes had resulted in the creation of a new industry in that vein.

He said the demand for Tomatoes in the area had created employment for the inhabitants especially the youth.

He therefore appealed to government to establish a Tomato factory as part of the ‘One District, One Factory initiative to enable farmers to produce on large scale.

Some of the farmers called for a reduction in taxes on farm implements and agro supplies, particularly fertilizer and chemicals, which have an impact on the price of their farm produce.

The farmers also appealed for soft loans and other incentive packages to encourage the people, particularly the youth, to accept agriculture as a viable means of economic independence.

GNA