Carrot farmers and buyers in Asante Mampong in the Ashanti Region have appealed to the government to temporarily halt the importation of carrots from Morocco, claiming that the influx of imported produce is severely affecting the local market.
The farmers say large quantities of Moroccan carrots have flooded major markets in Accra, Kumasi and other parts of the country, making it increasingly difficult for locally produced carrots to compete.
According to the farmers, they invested heavily in cultivating carrots this season with the expectation of securing good returns. However, the influx of imported carrots has left many struggling to find buyers for their produce.
They say the situation has become so serious that some carrots are being left to rot on farms in Asante Mampong due to the lack of a ready market.
The farmers are therefore calling on the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and the government to urgently consider placing a temporary ban on carrot imports from Morocco to protect local producers.
They also want the government to provide farmers with adequate storage facilities, improved market linkages and other forms of support to help them preserve their produce and access profitable markets.
The farmers argue that supporting local carrot production would not only protect their livelihoods but also reduce Ghana’s reliance on imported agricultural products and help conserve foreign exchange.
They warned that if the current situation persists, many carrot farmers could be forced out of business, potentially discouraging further investment in local vegetable production.
The farmers are consequently appealing to the government to intervene urgently, saying locally grown carrots should be given the opportunity to compete fairly in the Ghanaian market.
They further cautioned that without immediate measures to address the situation, more locally produced carrots could continue to rot on farms while imported carrots dominate markets across the country.
