Orange Farmers Abandon Farms For Cash Crops

The low patronage and consumption of citrus fruits, particularly sweet orange, is compelling many orange farmers in the Ashanti region to abandon the farming of the citrus fruits for other cash rewarding crops.

Oranges produce are suitable for juice, jam and the extraction of essential oils from the peel. But some orange farmers in the Ashanti region have expressed concern over the poor sales and lack of market for oranges.

They noted that market demand for oranges has been very low, and it does not encourage some of them to continue with its production.

They have therefore appealed to the government to assist them through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to secure markets for orange farmers in the Region.

One of the farmers, Nana Kwame Boateng who spoke to Gardja, said orange production is costly and time consuming and after going through all this difficulties we don’t get sellers to buy them on time,

He said the situation sometimes make a lot of their produce to rot, thereby affecting their investment.

Nana Kwame Boateng, who owns a 10 acre orange plantation at Brepro, near Adu-Gyama in the Ahafo Ano South District of the Ashanti Region, willing is to cut down his 10 acre orange plantation and enter cocoa plantation.

He also said they are battling with pests, strange disease and climatic conditions which affects the citrus value chain.

He said the 'government should consider wooing investors to construct orange processing plant here in the Ashanti region,' to help address the situation.

He said if no steps are taken to assist the farmers, many people will be discouraged from growing more sweet oranges for local consumption.

Citrus farming has the potential to assist Ghana to raise more revenue from its export and local consumption if necessary and holistic approaches are giving to the sector.

Another citrus producer in Abenase, who own a 3 acre orange plantation, Auntie Ama also said all her produces are wasting away due to lack of market for her harvest.