Chilli pepper and other key vegetable exporters are worried about rising freight charges by international airlines, a phenomenon that is deterring exports to the EU and US markets amid increasing demand for the commodities.
Fruit and vegetables should ideally be carried by air due to their perishability, according to international best practises and standards.
But current freight costs have increased by more than 50% to US$1.90 for a kilogramme of chilli peppers, shallots, okra, and other vegetables, and US$2 for others.
Currently, a tonne of chilli pepper exported locally costs the exporter at least US$2,000 to ship via international cargo to the EU, with freight prices to the UK being higher.
These challenges, according to the Vegetable Producers and Exporters Association of Ghana (VEPEAG), have been contributing to low scale production although there is available capacity to meet external demands.
VEPEAG’s president, Dr. Felix Kamassah, in an interview mentioned that government must help the sector by acquiring a national cargo-plane to rescue the industry and bring in the required income by harnessing available opportunities which the sector offers.
But Dr. Kamassah maintains that the sector is currently losing almost 40 percent of this revenue to high freight charges.