Study on Plant Protection in Cocoa Production Ghana
Ghana is the second largest producer of cocoa globally, producing on average close to 1
million tonnes of cocoa beans a year and employing 800,000 rural families. 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. In the regions where
cocoa grows it is susceptible to 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, sink bugs and stem borers. In order to manage these constraints many farmers have become reliant on the use of chemical
pesticides.
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (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. The study was carried out in
two countries in West Africa, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, in response to major concerns
expressed 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: GISCO