Plantain traders and consumers across Ghana are currently benefiting from the abundance of plantain in the market, as the season delivers plentiful harvests that have driven prices down significantly. However, this welcome affordability is shadowed by a pressing challenge, plantains ripen and spoil within a very short period, typically within four days, leaving sellers and buyers facing significant waste. Maame Kyeiwaa, the Plantain Queen at Kumasi Race Course has brought this issue to the attention of government authorities, urging immediate intervention to address the lack of preservation and storage facilities for plantain and other perishable foodstuffs.
According to Maame Kyeiwaa, the current situation forces many sellers to incur losses as plantains quickly become overripe and unsellable, while consumers are deprived of affordable food once the season ends and prices soar. She advocates for the government to invest in establishing food preservation factories or storage facilities where excess produce can be processed and stored safely. Such initiatives would not only reduce post-harvest losses but also stabilize food supply throughout the year, mitigating fluctuations in prices caused by seasonal availability.
The Plantain Queen emphasizes that preserving abundant food during harvest periods is critical to ensuring food security in Ghana. By setting up preservation systems—whether through drying, freezing, or other modern storage techniques—the country can transform its agricultural potential into sustainable economic gains. This approach would enable producers to sell their goods beyond the immediate market, provide consumers with consistent access to staples like plantain, and ultimately reduce the strain on vulnerable populations during off-seasons when food scarcity is most felt.
Maame Kyeiwaa’s plea highlights a broader need for comprehensive food policy reforms that include support for small-scale farmers and traders, infrastructure development, and investment in agro-processing ventures. Such proactive measures could improve livelihoods, curb food wastage, and reinforce Ghana’s position as a leading agricultural producer in the region. As the government considers these proposals, Ghanaian consumers and traders alike hope for swift action to preserve the nation’s abundant produce for the benefit of all.
Source: Ohemaa Adusi-Poku