Study on Plant Protection in Cocoa Production: Côte d’Ivoire
Côte d’Ivoire is the world’s largest producer of cocoa, producing over 2 million tonnes of cocoa beans a year and the sector employing over 1,000,000 rural families. As the most important agricultural export crop, cocoa contributes significantly to Côte d’Ivoire economy generating more than US$6 billion in export earnings annually. In the regions were cocoa is grown globally it is susceptible to many pest and diseases, West Africa is no exception with losses being estimated at 30-40% annually due to diseases such as black pod, cocoa swollen shoot virus and insect pests, such as mirids, shield bugs and stem borers. In order to manage these constraints many farmers have become reliant on the use of chemical pesticides.
GIZ, in collaboration with the German Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa (GISCO), commissioned CABI to undertake a study to explore the current status of the use of pesticides, current implementation of integrated pest management (IPM) and associated regulatory framework in cocoa cultivation and post harvest protection in the two main cocoa producing countries Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, in response to major concerns about the uncontrolled use of plant protection products and lack of implementation of IPM in cocoa production. For each country, the study covered the legal framework for pesticide use and pest management practices for cocoa. The study in Côte d’Ivoire was conducted through a desk study, questionnaires with extension agents and farmers, and interviews with major stakeholders.
Area of focus: Cocoa
Author(s): Lakpo Koku Agboyi, Jayne Crozier
Organisation/institution: GIZ