Okro farmers cry foul over low prices

In a shocking turn of events, a group of Okro farmers at Asuano, a suburb of Nkoranza in the Bono East Region, are lamenting over the low patronage of their produce.

Asuano, a community in the Bono East Region renowned for Okro farming is facing a crisis, as buyers seem to be underpaying them.

In an effort to get the needed attention for their business, the leader of the Okro farmers’ association, Mr. Isaac Boakye, has been interacting with the media, indicating that despite Okro farming being a lucrative business, since the crop is rich in nutrients and has economic benefits, the farmers in Asuano are still struggling to make ends meet.

“The cheating practice by the buyers has resulted in significant decline in sales, leaving us in a state of distress”, he said.

He added that “it is unfortunate that farmers struggle to grow the crop and as is the practice in the business community, the producer determines the price of the commodity, but in our case, buyers who know nothing about our struggles tell us how much they will pay for our sweat”.

He lamented that the soil for growing the crop is infertile and they need to irrigate it before the crop is able to grow.

“The irrigation alone is a serious economic burden and it is a must because of the nature of the soil”, he said.

In addition, Mr Boakye bemoaned that farming inputs such as fertilizers, weedicides and pesticides inflate the prices and have made farming activities difficult.

“We are more than 100 farmers on about 500 acres of land in the community. We owe some people loans we need to pay, but the low patronage is affecting us”, he cried out.

In his appeal, Mr. Boakye called on the government and other stakeholders to intervene and support them in finding a solution to the challenges they are facing.

Okro

According to experts, Okro, sometimes called “lady’s finger” is a flowering plant with edible seed pods. It grows best in warm climates and is often cultivated in Africa and South Asia.

Okro soup or stew and banku is a local delicacy in Ghana patronised by many people.

Though technically a fruit, Okro is often used as a vegetable cooking. You might be familiar with Okro as an ingredient in gumbo, for example.

Health Benefits

Okra is low in calories but full of nutrients. The vitamin C in Okro helps to support healthy immunity functions. Okro is also rich in vitamin K, which helps the blood to clot.

Some of the other health benefits of okro include;

Fight Cancer

According to medical professionals, okro contains antioxidants called polyphenols, including vitamins A and C. It also contains a protein called lectin, which may inhibit cancer cell growth in humans.

Studies using concentrated compounds from okra showed they inhibited the growth of breast cancer cells by up to 63%. Further research is needed for definitive proof of okra’s cancer-blocking properties.

Support Heart and Brain Health

Polyphenols decrease your risk of heart problems and stroke by preventing blood clots and reducing free radical damage. The antioxidants in okra may also benefit your brain by reducing brain inflammation.

Mucilage—a thick, gel-like substance found in okro – can bind with cholesterol during digestion so it is passed from the body. An eight-week study conducted on mice showed lower blood cholesterol levels after they were fed a high-fat diet containing okra powder.

Control Blood Sugar

Various studies have shown okra may help control blood sugar levels. Researchers believe okra may help prevent sugar from being absorbed during digestion.

In one study, rats given purified okra and liquid sugar had fewer blood sugar spikes than rats in the control group. More evidence is needed to confirm that okro helps control blood sugar levels in humans.

Prenatal Support

One cup of okro has 15% of the daily value of foliate, a helpful nutrient for pregnant women. Foliate helps reduce the risk of neural tube defects, which can affect the brain and spine of developing foetuses.

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