The livelihoods of farmers at the Bandem Irrigation project in the Builsa North District of the Upper East Region are under threat as a strange disease has made it impossible for them to cultivate tomatoes for the past three years.
The strange disease according to the farmers started attacking their farms in 2015 and though they have reported to the Department of agriculture in the district, they have not received any response.
A 38-year-old tomato farmer, Atiinka Akumkperimi, tells A1 News for the past three years anytime the tomatoes begin to fruit, they dry off. According to him, the tomatoes have started drying up and that is what has been happening to them for the past three years.
The development has affected not only the incomes of the tomato farmers but has also affected the availability of tomatoes at the Sandema market. Aside the tomatoes, Okro plants are also suffering from a similar strange disease causing them to shrink.
The District Chief Executive for the area, David Afoko who visited the project site at the instance of A1 News said he will get officials of MOFA to respond to the concerns of the farmers.
Source:A1radioonline.com
