International Journal of

ADVANCED AND APPLIED SCIENCES

EISSN: 2313-3724, Print ISSN: 2313-626X

Frequency: 12
line decor
  
line decor

 Volume 9, Issue 3 (March 2022), Pages: 100-110

----------------------------------------------

 Original Research Paper

 Title: Assessment of farmers’ knowledge and pesticides management in cocoa production in Ghana

 Author(s): Benedicta Y. Fosu-Mensah 1, *, Elvis D. Okoffo 1, Michael Mensah 2

 Affiliation(s):

 1Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
 2Department of Business Administration, University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Accra, Ghana

  Full Text - PDF          XML

 * Corresponding Author. 

  Corresponding author's ORCID profile: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3569-472X

 Digital Object Identifier: 

 https://doi.org/10.21833/ijaas.2022.03.012

 Abstract:

The use of pesticides to control pests and diseases has been a measure to increase cocoa productivity in Ghana. However, regular use and indiscriminate application of pesticides have unintended environmental and health risks. This study assesses the types of pesticides used by cocoa farmers in Ghana, sources and knowledge on application rate, frequency of application and factors that could influence farmers’ choice of source of pesticides, knowledge on application rate, and frequency of application. Two hundred and forty cocoa farmers from the Dormaa West District of Ghana were interviewed from December 2014 to February 2015 using a pre-tested questionnaire. The results showed that farmers sourced pesticides from agrochemical shops and fellow farmers, with some benefiting from the government of Ghana's ‘‘free mass cocoa spraying’’ program. A majority (51.2%) of the farmers sprayed more than three times per cocoa season. In addition, 35% of the farmers dangerously mixed two or more different pesticides together when spraying. Gender, age, educational level, and income from cocoa farming significantly influenced the choice of source of pesticide while knowledge on pesticides application rate was significantly influenced by educational level of farmers, access to extension services, presence of agrochemical shop, membership of a farm-based organization, and age of a farmer. Frequency of pesticides application was significantly influenced by educational level of farmers, access to extension services, presence of agrochemical shop, membership of the farmer-based organization, knowledge of Ghana COCOBOD recommendation on pesticides application rate, income from cocoa farming, and age of farmers. The majority of the farmers mixed two or more pesticides together during spraying. The limitation of this research is the inability to carry out the survey in other cocoa-growing districts within the study region. There is a need for the training of farmers on the safe use of pesticides by the Ghana COCOBOD to effectively manage pests and diseases and reduce environmental pollution. 

 © 2022 The Authors. Published by IASE.

 This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

 Keywords: Cocoa farmers, Diseases, Frequency, Ghana, Pesticides use

 Article History: Received 14 September 2021, Received in revised form 3 January 2022, Accepted 6 January 2022

 Acknowledgment 

No Acknowledgment.

 Compliance with ethical standards

 Conflict of interest: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

 Citation:

 Fosu-Mensah BY, Okoffo ED, and Mensah M (2022). Assessment of farmers’ knowledge and pesticides management in cocoa production in Ghana. International Journal of Advanced and Applied Sciences, 9(3): 100-110

 Permanent Link to this page

 Figures

 Fig. 1 

 Tables

 Table 1 Table 2 Table 3 Table 4 Table 5  

----------------------------------------------    

 References (53)

  1. Abankwah V, Aidoo R, and Osei RK (2010). Socioeconomic impact of government spraying programme on cocoa farmers in Ghana. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa, 12(4): 116-126.   [Google Scholar]
  2. Adejumo OA, Ojoko EA, and Yusuf SA (2014). Factors influencing choice of pesticides used by grain farmers in Southwest Nigeria. Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare, 4(28): 31-38.   [Google Scholar]
  3. Adeogun SO and Agbongiarhuoyi EA (2009). Assessment of cocoa farmers' chemical usage pattern in pest and disease management in Ondo State. International Journal of Innovation and Development Strategy Bangladesh, 3: 27-34.   [Google Scholar]
  4. Adu-Acheampong R, Padi B, Ackonor JB, Adu-Ampomah Y, and Opoku IY (2006). Field performance of some local and international clones of cocoa against infestation by mirids. In: Eskes AB and Efron Y (Eds.), Global approaches to Cocoa germplasm utilization and conservation No. 50: 187-189. Bioversity International, Rome, Italy.   [Google Scholar]
  5. Afrane G and Ntiamoah A (2011). Use of pesticides in the cocoa industry and their impact on the environment and the food chain. In: Stoytcheva M (Ed.), Pesticides in the modern world-risks and benefits: 51-68. Books on Demand, Norderstedt, Germany. https://doi.org/10.5772/17921   [Google Scholar]
  6. Agbeve SK, Osei-Fosu P, and Carboo D (2014). Levels of organochlorine pesticide residues in Mondia whitei, a medicinal plant used in traditional medicine for erectile dysfunction in Ghana. International Journal of Advance Agricultural Research, 1: 9-16.   [Google Scholar]
  7. Akan JC, Jafiya L, Mohammed Z, and Abdulrahman FI (2013). Organophosphorus pesticide residues in vegetables and soil samples from alau dam and gongulong agricultural areas, Borno State, Nigeria. Ecosystems, 3(6): 58-64. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20130102.14   [Google Scholar]
  8. Aminu FO, Ayinde IA, Sanusi RA, and Olaiya AO (2019). Determinants of pesticide use in cocoa production in Nigeria. Canadian Journal of Agriculture and Crops, 4(2): 101-110. https://doi.org/10.20448/803.4.2.101.110   [Google Scholar]
  9. Anang BT (2011). Market structure and competition in the Ghanaian cocoa sector after partial liberalization. Current Research Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 3(6): 465-470.   [Google Scholar]
  10. Anang BT, Mensah F, and Asamoah A (2013). Farmers’ assessment of the government spraying program in Ghana. Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development, 4(7): 92-99.   [Google Scholar]
  11. Aneani F, Anchirinah VM, Owusu-Ansah F, and Asamoah M (2012). Adoption of some cocoa production technologies by cocoa farmers in Ghana. Sustainable Agriculture Research, 1(1): 103-117. https://doi.org/10.5539/sar.v1n1p103   [Google Scholar]
  12. Antwi-Agyakwa AK (2013). Susceptibility of field populations of cocoa mirids, sahlbergella singularis haglund and distantiella theobroma (distant) to bifenthrin. Ph.D. Dissertation, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.   [Google Scholar]
  13. Antwi-Agyakwa AK, Osekre EA, Adu-Acheampong R, and Ninsin KD (2015). Insecticide use practices in cocoa production in four regions in Ghana. West African Journal of Applied Ecology, 23(1): 39-48. https://doi.org/10.4314/just.v36i2.1   [Google Scholar]
  14. Appiah MR (2004). Impact of cocoa research innovations on poverty alleviation in Ghana. Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, Accra, Ghana.   [Google Scholar]
  15. Asante BO, Afarindash V, and Sarpong DB (2011). Determinants of small scale farmers decision to join farmer based organizations in Ghana. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 6(10): 2273-2279.   [Google Scholar]
  16. Ayenor GK, Van Huis A, Obeng-Ofori D, Padi B, and Röling NG (2007). Facilitating the use of alternative capsid control methods towards sustainable production of organic cocoa in Ghana. International Journal of Tropical Insect Science, 27(2): 85-94. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758407780840   [Google Scholar]
  17. Bempah CK, Donkor A, Yeboah PO, Dubey B, and Osei-Fosu P (2011). A preliminary assessment of consumer’s exposure to organochlorine pesticides in fruits and vegetables and the potential health risk in Accra Metropolis, Ghana. Food Chemistry, 128(4): 1058-1065. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2011.04.013   [Google Scholar]
  18. Binam JN, Gockowski J, and Nkamleu GB (2008). Technical efficiency and productivity potential of cocoa farmers in West African countries. The Developing Economies, 46(3): 242-263. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1746-1049.2008.00065.x   [Google Scholar]
  19. Boateng DO, Nana F, Codjoe Y, and Ofori J (2014). Impact of illegal small scale mining (Galamsey) on cocoa production in Atiwa district of Ghana. International Journal of Advance Agricultural Research, 2: 89-99.   [Google Scholar]
  20. Byrnes FC and Byrnes KJ (1969). Agricultural extension and education in developing countries. International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Cali, Colombia.   [Google Scholar]
  21. Cocco P, Satta G, Dubois S, Pili C, Pilleri M, Zucca M, and Boffetta P (2013). Lymphoma risk and occupational exposure to pesticides: Results of the Epilymph study. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 70(2): 91-98. https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2012-100845   [Google Scholar] PMid:23117219
  22. Dankwa JB (2001). Factors affecting adoption levels of cocoa technologies in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.   [Google Scholar]
  23. Dankyi E, Gordon C, Carboo D, and Fomsgaard IS (2014). Quantification of neonicotinoid insecticide residues in soils from cocoa plantations using a QuEChERS extraction procedure and LC-MS/MS. Science of the Total Environment, 499: 276-283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.08.051   [Google Scholar] PMid:25194905
  24. Danso-Abbeam G, Setsoafia ED, and Ansah IGK (2014). Modelling farmers investment in agrochemicals: The experience of smallholder cocoa farmers in Ghana. Research in Applied Economics, 6(4): 1-16. https://doi.org/10.5296/rae.v6i4.5977   [Google Scholar]
  25. Dasgupta S and Meisner C (2005). Health effects and pesticide perception as determinants of pesticide use: Evidence from Bangladesh. Volume 3776, World Bank Publications, Washington, USA. https://doi.org/10.1596/1813-9450-3776   [Google Scholar]
  26. Dasgupta S, Meisner C, Wheeler D, Xuyen K, and Lam NT (2005). Pesticide poisoning of farm workers–implications of blood test results from Vietnam. Policy Research Working Paper No. 3624, World Bank, Washington, USA. https://doi.org/10.1596/1813-9450-3624   [Google Scholar]
  27. Denkyirah EK, Okoffo ED, Adu DT, Aziz AA, Ofori A, and Denkyirah EK (2016). Modeling Ghanaian cocoa farmers’ decision to use pesticide and frequency of application: The case of Brong Ahafo Region. SpringerPlus, 5: 1113. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40064-016-2779-z   [Google Scholar] PMid:27478730 PMCid:PMC4949184
  28. Deressa TT, Hassan RM, Ringler C, Alemu T, and Yesuf M (2009). Determinants of farmers’ choice of adaptation methods to climate change in the Nile Basin of Ethiopia. Global Environmental Change, 19(2): 248-255. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2009.01.002   [Google Scholar]
  29. FAOSTAT (2016). Food and agriculture data. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Statistics Division, Rome, Italy.  
  30. Fosu-Mensah BY, Okoffo ED, Darko G, and Gordon C (2016). Assessment of organ chlorine pesticide residues in soils and drinking water sources from cocoa farms in Ghana. SpringerPlus, 5: 869. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40064-016-2352-9   [Google Scholar] PMid:27386318 PMCid:PMC4920806
  31. Fosu-Mensah BY, Vlek PL, and MacCarthy DS (2012). Farmers’ perception and adaptation to climate change: A case study of Sekyedumase district in Ghana. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 14(4): 495-505. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-012-9339-7   [Google Scholar]
  32. Georghiou GP (1980). Insecticide resistance and prospects for its management. In: Gunther FA and Gunther JD (Eds.), Residue reviews: 131-145. Springer, New York, USA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-6107-0_6   [Google Scholar]
  33. Gill HK and Garg H (2014). Pesticide: Environmental impacts and management strategies. In: Soloneski S (Ed.), Pesticides-toxic aspects: 187-210. Books on Demand, Norderstedt, Germany.   [Google Scholar]
  34. GSS (2014). 2010 Population and housing census: District analytical report: Dormaa west district. Ghana Statistical Service, Accra, Ghana. 
  35. ISSER (2014). ISSER Launches 2013 state of the Ghanaian economy report. Institute of Statistical Social and Economic Research, Accra, Ghana.  
  36. Khan M, Mahmood HZ, and Damalas CA (2015). Pesticide use and risk perceptions among farmers in the cotton belt of Punjab, Pakistan. Crop Protection, 67: 184-190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2014.10.013   [Google Scholar]
  37. Kumi JA (2003). Factors affecting attitudes of cocoa farmers towards replant‑ing of cocoa in the Kwaebibirem District of the Eastern Region Ghana. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.   [Google Scholar]
  38. Lanaud C, Fouet O, Clément D, Boccara M, Risterucci AM, Surujdeo-Maharaj S, and Argout X (2009). A meta–QTL analysis of disease resistance traits of Theobroma cacao L. Molecular Breeding, 24(4): 361-374. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11032-009-9297-4   [Google Scholar]
  39. Lass T (2004). Balancing cocoa production and consumption. In: Flood J and Murphy R (Eds.), Cocoa futures: A source book of some important issues confronting the cocoa industry: 8-16. Federación de Cafetaleros de Colombia, Chinchiná, Colombia.   [Google Scholar]
  40. Lin JY (1991). Education and innovation adoption in agriculture: Evidence from hybrid rice in China. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 73(3): 713-723. https://doi.org/10.2307/1242823   [Google Scholar]
  41. Maddison D (2006). The perception of and adaptation to climate change in Africa. CEEPA Discussion Paper No 10, Centre for Environment Economics and Policy in Africa, Pretoria, South Africa. https://doi.org/10.1596/1813-9450-4308   [Google Scholar]
  42. Ntiamoah A and Afrane G (2008). Environmental impacts of cocoa production and processing in Ghana: Life cycle assessment approach. Journal of Cleaner Production, 16(16): 1735-1740. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2007.11.004   [Google Scholar]
  43. Ntow WJ, Gijzen HJ, Kelderman P, and Drechsel P (2006). Farmer perceptions and pesticide use practices in vegetable production in Ghana. Pest Management Science: Formerly Pesticide Science, 62(4): 356-365. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.1178   [Google Scholar] PMid:16532443
  44. Okoffo ED, Fosu-Mensah BY, and Gordon C (2016). Persistent organochlorine pesticide residues in cocoa beans from Ghana, a concern for public health. International Journal of Food Contamination, 3: 5. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40550-016-0028-4   [Google Scholar]
  45. Orisajo BS (2009). Nematodes of cacao and their integrated management. In: Ciancio A and Mukerji K (Eds.), Integrated management of fruit crops nematodes: 119-134. Springer, Dordrecht, Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9858-1_5   [Google Scholar]
  46. Padi B, Ackonor JB, Abitey MA, Owusu EB, Fofie A, and Asante E (2000). Report on a survey on insecticide use and residues in cocoa beans in Ghana. Cocoa Board Internal Report, Tafo. Ghana.   [Google Scholar]
  47. Sebopetji TO and Belete A (2009). An application of probit analysis to factors affecting small-scale farmers decision to take credit: A case study of the Greater Letaba Local Municipality in South Africa. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 4(8): 718-723.   [Google Scholar]
  48. Sharifzadeh MS, Abdollahzadeh G, Damalas CA, and Rezaei R (2018). Farmers’ criteria for pesticide selection and use in the pest control process. Agriculture, 8(2): 24. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture8020024   [Google Scholar]
  49. Tanner CM, Kamel F, Ross GW, Hoppin JA, Goldman SM, Korell M, and Langston JW (2011). Rotenone, paraquat, and Parkinson’s disease. Environmental Health Perspectives, 119(6): 866-872. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1002839   [Google Scholar] PMid:21269927 PMCid:PMC3114824
  50. Tijani AA (2006). Pesticide use practices and safety issues: The case of cocoa farmers in Ondo State, Nigeria. Journal of Human Ecology, 19(3): 183-190.   [Google Scholar]
  51. Tijani AA (2010). Factors influencing pesticide use among cocoa farmers in Ondo State, Nigeria. In the Second RUFORUM Biennial Meeting, Entebbe, Uganda: 361-364. https://doi.org/10.1080/09709274.2006.11905876   [Google Scholar]
  52. Tiwari S, Mann RS, Rogers ME, and Stelinski LL (2011). Insecticide resistance in field populations of Asian citrus psyllid in Florida. Pest Management Science, 67(10): 1258-1268. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.2181   [Google Scholar] PMid:21538798
  53. WHO (2005). The WHO recommended classification of pesticides by hazard. World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.