Tomato farmers in Tatale in the Zabzugu/Tatale district of the Northern Region have appealed to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to open up marketing avenues for tomatoe and other perishable crops in order not to defeat the objective of the youth in agricultural ventures.

Narrating their plight to the GNA at Tatale on Thursday, Mr Kpabu Mayuini, one of the farmers, said the current market trend of tomatoes and other perishable products is not only discouraging, but aggravates the poverty level of farmers.

According to Mr Mayini, a crate of tomatoes which sold at 200,000 cedis between November and December last year now sells at 70,000 cedis which cannot even cover the expenses of inputs used during cultivation.

He said retailers have also taken undue advantage of the glut of tomatoes on the market by even buying at lower than the 70,000 cedis, claiming they run at a loss anytime they travel to neighbouring towns to sell.

Mr Mayini called on the government to either re-open the tomato factories in the country so that they can supply raw materials, or come out with good preservative methods that will keep them in business.

Mr Mayini said most of the farmers raised loans to venture into tomato production, and if the trend continues, they may have to abandon such ventures.

Madam Grace Kpachin, a tomatoe retailer at Tatale said, the prices of the produce have gone down because of the glut in most of the producing areas and hoped that in due course, the price will rise again.

"Though we sympathise with the farmers, if we also buy the commodity at a high price, we shall run at a loss," she explained.