Asante Mampong carrot farmers seek ban on Moroccan imports

Carrot farmers and buyers in Asante Mampong in the Ashanti Region are appealing to the government to temporarily halt the importation of carrots from Morocco, saying the influx of the imported produce is threatening the survival of local farmers.

The farmers claim large quantities of Moroccan carrots have flooded markets in Accra, Kumasi and other major cities, making it increasingly difficult for locally grown carrots to compete for buyers.

Some farmers who spoke in an interview said they had invested heavily in cultivating carrots this season but were now struggling to sell their produce because of the dominance of imported carrots on the market.

They warned that unless urgent measures are taken, many local carrot farmers could be forced out of business, while the country could lose valuable foreign exchange that could otherwise be conserved by promoting locally produced carrots.

The farmers are therefore calling on the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the government to urgently consider imposing a temporary ban on Moroccan carrot imports to protect local production.

They also want government to support the sector by providing adequate storage facilities and establishing stronger market linkages to enable farmers to preserve their produce and secure reliable buyers.

According to the farmers, the situation has become particularly worrying as large quantities of carrots are reportedly left to rot on farms in Asante Mampong while imported carrots continue to dominate major markets.

They stressed that protecting local carrot production would not only safeguard farmers’ livelihoods but also strengthen domestic agriculture and reduce the country’s dependence on imported produce.