Lack of markets and storage facilities leading to plantain glut

The Goaso Market Women's Association has expressed concern about the lack of market in the country for plantain produced in the Asunafo District. Madam Martha Awuah, Secretary of the Association told the Ghana News Agency that the situation has led to an unprecedented glut, and placed farmers "at their wit's end." She called for an immediate solution to the situation, which she said had persisted for the past three weeks in order to sustain the interest of the farmers.

Madam Awuah was reacting to allegations that some Burkinabe foodstuff dealers had been offering fantastic prices for the commodity at the Goaso market. It was also alleged that some members of the Goaso Plantain Dealers Association had been transferring their stock to the Burkinabes.

Madam Awuah said even though her office had received no formal complaint about the allegations from members of the Association, the practice has the potential to mar the existing cordial relationship between farmers and the Plantain Sellers Association. "The practice enjoys immunity in view of Ghana's bid to encourage free and liberalized cross-border trade system with neighboring countries, but it cannot go on to the detriment of the long-standing trade links at the local level."

Madam Awuah appealed to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Asunafo district Assembly and the Women's Development Fund of the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs to assist both plantain farmers and dealers with small-scale processing and storage facilities to enable them to add value to their produce for sale during the off-season.