Bolgatanga, Jan. 10, GNA - The Coalition of Tomato Farmers in the Upper East Region has petitioned the Government, through the Regional Minister, to take urgent steps to address the problem of marketing to save farmers from incurring huge financial losses this crop season. The petition signed by Mr Abdulai Asuah, Secretary of the Tomatoes Producers Association of Nyariga (TOPAN), stated that farmers went into mass production of tomatoes at the onset of the current season based on the promise by the Government that it was going to revamp the Pwalugu Tomato Factory to serve as a major source of market for them. "In view of the promise a lot of farmers took loans from the banks and money lenders and even sold animals to undertake mass production of tomato which is now ready for harvesting yet the factory has not yet been revamped."

The farmers appealed to the Government to expedite action on the revamping of the Factory as a matter of urgency or else farmers would become heavily indebted.

The farmers also appealed to the Regional Minister to dialogue with market queens from the South to buy tomatoes from local farmers rather than cross the border to buy the produce from neighbouring Burkina Faso. Meanwhile, a source from the Pwalugu Factory has given the assurance that the factory would go into operation in about a fortnight to meet the aspirations of tomato farmers.