The Northern Star Tomato factory has been idle the whole of this year. XYZ BUSINESS has learnt that hundreds of drums of tomato paste produced by the company have not been lifted since 2010.

A major disease that hit tomato farms this year has worsened the plight of the ailing company.

The Director of Operations, Kwabena Darkwa was tight lipped on the current state of the company when a team of journalists visited the firm except to say that the company has been shut down for maintenance.

“The key players; government, the agric ministry as well the trade ministry is collaborating with research institutions to see if we can get a second season production to look at other varieties that will do well.

“Presently things are not the best, but we are looking at ways we can revive the place again,” He told XYZ news.

The Programs officer for the Peasant Farmers Association, Charles Nyaaba, on the other hand, criticized successive government for running down the company.

He suggested that government hand over management of the factories to private entries to better results.