Tomato is an important vegetable where I was born and where I have lived in the past three years. Where I was born, Accra [Ghana], where I now live, Pointe Noire [Republic of Congo].
Growing up, I was the only boy that my mom, Hajia Fati, used to drag along to market on Saturdays. I was towed to the Mallam Atta market for the week’s foodstuff purchases.
My role was simple; when all is bought, I had the ‘pleasure’ of carrying the load back home. Thanks to those sessions, I know the market like the back of my hand. Tomatoes and onions were two main ingredients that had on and off seasons.
Now to the tomatoes story as told by Selase Kove-Seyram. His article for the Gates Foundation title 'Ripe For Reinvention,' brings to the fore two things: how much we take the source of food for granted and the reality people live to ensure our next meal makes it into the pots and plates.
Bill Gates tweeted a link to the article with the description: "Selase Kove-Seyram traveled the route that tomatoes take from farm to table. Along the way, he learned how food — and untapped human potential — could hold the key to his country’s success."
Selase undertook a cross-country trip to the north, farthest north and onwards into Burkina Faso to tell the story of tomatoes – the characteristically red ‘globes’ that are present in almost every Ghanaian meal – name it.
From Accra through to Kumasi, on to Tamale, where Salase’s story telling started as per the article and then to Burkina Faso, the French-speaking neighbours who are feeding Ghana’s tomato appetite and whiles at it ‘failing’ our farmers.
Feeding Ghana as in, our local tomato needs cannot be fulfilled by farmers at home so we must as a matter of necessity bring in produce from Burkina at specific times of the year.
Local farmers miss out because their competitors across the border often have state support and guess what, trade queens believe those tomatoes are better than the homegrown – most times, so they told Selase.
Ghana as things stand now depend on three tomato sources, the locally produced, the imported and the tomato puree which according to records are largely brought in from Europe. Politicians will come and be gyrating over who collapsed Pawlugu – that’s all they ever do, innit?
But even as the politicians politicize, the tomato business continues unabated. There are women and men who believe if they turned their backs on the trade, it won’t augur well – so they soldier on in the name of profits despite hurdles.
In the markets up north, Selase spoke to a number of women, main name Mariama Nagumsi. Then there is the market queen in Accra, Victoria Amoah and her allies – sadly they love to vend tomatoes but no plans to let their “educated” kids do same.
The story teller he is and loves to be, Selase also spoke to farmers in the Upper East on the challenges that they face in the line of their work.
In the cozy offices where tomatoes and other ingredients are discussed, he interfaced with members of the International Food Policy Research Institute, IFPRI, who are key partners in his journeys to track tomatoes.
Now, let me wear my religious cap. Scriptures tell us about how God is master of the universe and controller of its affairs – the significant to the seemingly not. Man, MUST as a matter of necessity be grateful each passing day for life.
It’s not about having money to buy, it’s about it being available. Imagine if farmers produce as much as they need or they don’t sell for some reason, we’d be toast.
As diligent as the farmers and traders are to get us the red ‘globes’ supplied, we must all in our corners play diligent in service to others who depend on us. The world is a better place if we all play fair.
Who is Selase Kove-Seyram?
He is a storyteller and journalist, so says the article. But over and above that, he is a multimedia journalist. Ghana Institute of Journalism, Central University graduate, a diploma from an India Varsity and Masters from Columbia University.
He is Chief Executive Officer of a company that specializes in multimedia production. Selase loves his camera and puts huge effort in his work. Not exactly a perfectionist but one who has and insists on set standards.
He has written for top global news websites having started off at the New Crusading GUIDE newspaper. He is a top shot at Tiger Eye PI, where I worked for over half a decade.
Ok, his professional website will tell you more about him. And he is a very cool writer; writes very well.
Rabi'ul Awwal 25, 1440 = December 3, 2018
No comments:
Post a Comment