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
where cocoa is grown globally it is susceptible to many pests 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: GISCO