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The vegetable sellers in the Sunyani Municipality have expressed worry that lack of facilities for vegetable preservation is resulting in financial losses and collapse of their businesses.

They said one major challenge in the vegetable business is its preservation, citing that vegetables like cabbage, lettuce and cucumber are highly perishable and difficult to store for a long time.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at the Nana Bosoma weekly market on Wednesday in Sunyani, Nana Afia Ampobeng who has been a vegetable seller for about 20 years, said vegetable selling “is very risky business because one can easily run at a loss”.

Consequently, customers cannot buy in large quantities because of their quick and high perishable nature, Nana Ampobeng, who is the ‘Akwamuhemaa’ of Asufufu, a suburb in Sunyani said.

She appealed to hotel managers, restaurant operators and food vendors who require vegetables in large quantities to buy from them instead of going to other areas outside the Municipality.

In another interview with the GNA a female health personnel who pleaded anonymity said vegetables have a lot of nutritional values since research has shown that they contain nutrients that are vital for good health and maintenance of the human body.

She said “eating a diet rich in vegetables may reduce risk for stroke, cancer, heart diseases and type-2 diabetes” but relatively fewer number of people consume it (vegetables) in the society.

She called for intensive sensitisation and educational campaigns at health facilities, schools and churches for the populace to appreciate the benefits of eating more vegetables.