Farmers and gari processors in the Nkoranza North District of Brong-Ahafo Regional have appealed for a modern market to facilitate their economic activities.

They observed that the deplorable nature of the only market cited at Busunya, the district capital, had adversely affected the rural livelihood activities and increased poverty.

Mr Thomas Benarkuu, Project officer of Mission of Hope Society (MIHOSO), a non-governmental organisation, made the appeal on behalf of the “Enso Nyameye Gari Processing Association”, a farmer group made up of gari processors in the area, in an interview with Ghana News Agency, at Busunya.

MIHOSO is a service provider for Business Sector Advocacy Challenge Fund, advocating the need for the construction of a modern market in the district.

Mr Benarkuu said the district assembly started rehabilitation work at the old market, but the project had been abandoned for some years now.

He said farmers had made persistent appeals for the project to be reactivated but the assembly said it had no funds to complete it.

Mr Benarkuu said a research conducted by the association revealed that the deplorable condition of the market was the leading cause of poverty in the area as farm produce got wasted during bumper harvest.

He noted that because of the lack of storage facility, as well as sheds and stalls, the farmers were always forced to sell their perishable produce at low prices especially in the rainy season.