The Trade Ministry has assured there will soon be a long term solution to the challenges confronting tomato farmers in the Upper East region. The farmers have complained about the lack of a ready market for their produce because the market queens who deal in the vegetable prefer to buy from Burkina Faso where the product is cheaper. The farmers, some of whom have in the past committed suicide out of frustration, are now cautioning there will be an imminent shortage as many of them are completely abandoning the crop. But Trade Minister Hannah Tetteh says the problem confronting the farmers would be resolved once and for all if the Northern Star Tomato factory, formerly Pwalugu Tomato Factory begins operating at full capacity. She says the factory has so far been unable function to the farmers’ expectation because the tomato produced so far is woefully inadequate. The Minister also adds that there is an agreement to find different species of tomatoes that will enable the factory get sustainable supply. She said discussions were ongoing between the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and an Indian Research Institute “to see how we can introduce new seed varieties that perhaps can go for a longer period than the ones that we have at the moment, that are firmer fruits, that can give us higher yield for the purposes of production.” Source: Joy Business/Ghana