Strategy for Insect Pest Control in Cocoa
Richard Adu-Acheampong, Joseph Easmon Sarfo, Ernest Felix Appiah, Abraham Nkansah, Godfred Awudzi, Emmanuel Obeng, Phebe Tagbor, Richard Sem
Journal of Experimental Agriculture International · pp. 416–423 · Published 9 Jan 2015
10.9734/AJEA/2015/12956Abstract
Farming systems in cocoa over the last three decades have involved the use of new hybrid plant varieties, which produce pods throughout the year, intensified fertilizer use, and misguided pesticide applications by some farmers. Resource availability in terms of abundance of feeding and breeding sites and ecological disruption as a consequence of climate change and bad agronomic practices have increased the importance of insect pests on cocoa. Historically the major management tool for hemipteran pests has been calendar spraying with conventional insecticides. Considerable progress was made at the turn of the last century by replacing organochlorine insecticides for cocoa mirid control. But inappropriate timing and inefficient application is probably reducing the viability of otherwise acceptable products in some areas. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy for mirids and other insect control should involve great investment in pest surveillance, and be based primarily on the use of cultural practices of removal of excess chupons, shade management and host variety resistance. These practices must primarily aim at minimising mirid-associated dieback disease and stink bug deformation of pods, and should be supplemented in some cases by the use of insecticides (up to two applications in February to May at 28-days intervals) depending on the pest populations, damage levels as well as intensity of activity of pollinating insects, with additional two applications during September to December when pest problems may arise. Improved methods of monitoring and prediction should assist in early identification of specific problems in different farms. The rotational use of different active ingredients should also take into account factors such as application methods, compatibility and correct timing. Careful planning is necessary to formulate a flexible control system.
Cited by 28
S. Avicor, G. Awudzi, R. Adu-Acheampong · Journal of Agriculture and Food Research · 2023
C. F. Ambele, H. Bisseleua, C. T. Djuideu · Agroforestry Systems · 2023
B. K. Asitoakor, R. Asare, A. Ræbild · Social Science Research Network · 2022
K. Boateng, E. Dankyi, Joel Cox Menka Banahene · Chemistry Africa · 2022
G. Awudzi, R. Adu-Acheampong, S. Avicor · Organic Agriculture · 2022
S. Avicor, R. Adu-Acheampong, G. Awudzi · Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science · 2021
Joeselle M. Serrana, L. A. Ormenita, B. J. M. Almarinez · Phytoparasitica · 2021
Patricia Barnett-Quaicoo, Aminu Ahmadu · Continuity & Resilience Review · 2021
J. E. Sarfo, C. Campbell, D. Hall · Crop Protection · 2020
F. Amon-Armah, F. Baah, F. Owusu-Ansah · International Journal of Pest Management · 2020
Related research
- Lactobacilli Cultures against Ochratoxin A Producing Moulds Isolated from Cocoa in the South West Region of Cameroon — shares topic coverage
- Mycorrhizal Interaction between Companion Trees and Cocoa Trees (Theobroma cacao L.) in Traditional Agroforestry Systems in Côte d’Ivoire — shares topic coverage
- Nutritional Composition and Sensory Evaluation of Malted Sorghum (Sorghum bicolour) Beverage Fortified with Cocoa (Theobroma cacao) — shares topic coverage
- Perceived Climate Resilience and Adoption of Cocoa Agroforestry in the Forest-Savannah Transition Zone of Ghana — shares topic coverage
- Above Ground Biomass and Carbon Stock in Some Perennial Crop Based Agroforestry Systems in the Humid Forest Zone of Cameroon — shares topic coverage
Article metrics
Real usage data collected on this platform.
22
Page views
0
PDF downloads
0
Outbound clicks
28
Citations
Views over time
Views by country
Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".
Traffic sources
Referring site, by host.
Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.