Study on Plant Protection in Cocoa Production Ghana
Ghana is the second largest producer of cocoa globally, producing approximately 800,000 tonnes of cocoa beans annually. As the most important agricultural export crop, cocoa contributes significantly to Ghana’s economy generating more than US$2.5 billion in export earnings annually. Cocoa is susceptible to a range of pest and diseases specific to West Africa and annual losses have been estimated at 30-40% annually due mainly to black pod disease, cocoa swollen shoot virus and insect pests, such as mirids, stink 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 Ghana was conducted through a desk study, questionnaires with extension agents and farmers, and interviews with major stakeholders.
Area of focus: Cocoa
Author(s): Victor Clottey, Jayne Crozier
Organisation/institution: GIZ