Prices of tomatoes on local markets in Kumasi have seen astronomical increases in recent times.
A box of tomatoes sold at 600 cedis earlier this year has increased to 2,500 cedis.
Importers blame the upsurge in prices to the high exchange rate of the CFA Franc and attacks on farmers and importers by militant group, ‘Boko Haram’.
Light FM NEWS has been interacting with some traders in tomato markets in the metropolis.
A retailer at Race Course Market told Light FM news pieces of tomatoes sold at 10 cedis now sell at 50 cedis.
She says the sharp increase in prices is adversely affecting businesses in the tomato value chain.
The tomato market is visibly empty as compared to previous periods.
Importers blame the hikes in prices on the continuous attacks on farmers and transporters in Burkina Faso by militant group, ‘Boko Haram’.
They claim some farmers have been killed and others have fled for their lives.
An importer recounted how they were attacked and six farmers killed instantly, making them lose a huge sum of money.
The traders said the situation has affected sales and could create shortages.
The market queens for tomatoes in the Ashanti region want the government to increase the ‘One-Village One-Dam’ initiative and invest heavily in tomato farming.
They also want the government to stop the free fall of the cedis against the CFA to avoid further hikes in the price of the tomatoes on the local market.
Market Queens are upbeat of the economic potentials of tomato production when given the needed attention.