Facilitating the use of alternative capsid control methods towards sustainable production of organic cocoa in Ghana

Ayenor, G.K.; Huis, A. van; Obeng‐Ofori, D.; Padi, B.; Röling, N.G.

doi:10.1017/s1742758407780840

Cited by 38 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…() demonstrated that traps at 1.8 m caught 8% of the numbers of male S. singularis caught in traps positioned just beneath the canopy. Similarly low‐trap heights had been used in earlier pheromone trapping studies in cacao (Padi et al., ; Ayenor et al., ; Mahob et al., ), although, in response to the results of Sarfo (), Awudzi et al. () placed their traps at 2.7 m. Sarfo et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Optimal pheromone trap density for mass trapping cacao mirids

Sarfo

Campbell

Hall

2018

Entomologia Exp Applicata

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Sahlbergella singularis Haglund and Distantiella theobroma (Distant) (Heteroptera: Miridae) are the key insect pests of cacao in Ghana and elsewhere in West Africa. Since 1954, spraying with synthetic insecticides has been the principal means of controlling these pests. In West Africa, environmental concerns, economic stimuli, and unreliable access to insecticides have stimulated interest in ecologically more benign mirid control strategies as an alternative to a total reliance on insecticides. Males of both mirid species, and those of the less damaging Bryocoropsis laticollis Schumacher, respond to the same synthetic sex pheromone blend, so pheromone‐based strategies may provide control as well as monitoring opportunities. Pheromone traps were deployed for 3 months at nine densities between two and 30 traps per 0.1 ha plot (20–300 traps ha−1) plus an untreated control treatment in a replicated large‐scale field experiment on mature mixed Upper Amazon hybrid cacao in Ghana, in order to determine the optimal dispenser density for mass trapping, lure‐and‐kill, and/or lure‐and‐infect. At the end of the trapping period, mirid populations in the various treatments were assessed by insecticide knockdown on 400 trees and by searches to hand height on 1 200 trees, together with an assessment of mirid damage. In total 781 S. singularis and 235 D. theobroma were captured in the pheromone traps. The optimal dispenser density for S. singularis was 150 traps ha−1. Over 300 traps ha−1 was probably optimal for D. theobroma as a smaller proportion of the population was captured, and numbers caught per trap displayed no decline with increasing trap density. From insecticide knockdowns, mirid population density was estimated at 220–230 ha−1, 63% of which were D. theobroma. Too few pods and orthotropic shoots were damaged by mirids to establish the efficacy of pheromone trapping for mirid control.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Optimal pheromone trap density for mass trapping cacao mirids

Sarfo

Campbell

Hall

2018

Entomologia Exp Applicata

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“…However, over the years cocoa production has faced major challenges, among these is the incidence of insect pests and diseases which has been recognized as a major cause of declining yields in cocoa (Ayenor et al 2007;Ntiamoah and Afrane 2008). This has adverse consequences for the country's economy.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pesticides exposure and the use of personal protective equipment by cocoa farmers in Ghana

2016

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Background: The hazards of pesticide exposure have been a growing concern globally. The increase of susceptibility of farmers to pesticide intoxication is due to lack of knowledge regarding safe and proper pesticide handling. The aim of this study was to evaluate cocoa farmers' pesticide exposure by assessing the ways in which they store pesticides, operational habits exhibited during and after pesticide application and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) during pesticide application in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana.Methods: Two hundred and forty (240) cocoa farmers were randomly selected and interviewed using a structured questionnaire.Results: Majority of the farmers were aware of the negative effects of pesticides on their health and the environment if not well handled. Despite the awareness, most farmers did not handle pesticides with care and do not adhere to the use of PPE, hence, increasing their risks to danger of exposure to pesticides. Storage of pesticides in bedrooms was reported by 22.5 % of farmers; an indication of a high risk of pesticides exposure through direct inhalation. Cocoa farmers' in the study area exhibited operational habits such as eating, drinking water and alcohol, smoking cigarette and tobacco pipes, chewing gum and sticks, talking, using the mouth to remove blockages from sprayer nozzles, stirring pesticides with bare hands, among others during pesticides application. The survey revealed that only 35 % of farmers put on full PPE while 45 % put on partial PPE [which is any or combination of the following; cap/hat, respirator, goggle, rubber glove, overall and wellington boot (rubber boot)] during pesticides application. On the other hand, 20 % of farmers in the study area applied pesticides without wearing PPE. These practices expose farmers to adverse health risks. Factors that influenced farmers' decision to use PPE included farming experience, age of farmer, access to extension service, availability of a chemical shop, farm size and educational level. Conclusion:The results indicate high risks of exposure of cocoa farmers in the study area to toxicity and health hazards of pesticides due to mishandling and habits exhibited during pesticide application. There is a need to improve habits of safe use and handling of pesticides among farmers through education and training. There is also a need for education on the use of PPE during pesticides application to avoid exposure and health hazards.

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“…The weaver ant O. smaragdina in Asia and Australia has a sister species, O. longinoda, in tropical Africa, which is also an efficient biocontrol agent of the main insect pests of coconut (Way 1953;Vanderplank 1960), cocoa (Leston 1973;Ayenor et al 2007;Dejean et al 1991), mango (Van Mele et al 2007) and cashew (Dwomoh et al 2009). Both insect species are similar in their foraging behaviour.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using weaver antsOecophylla smaragdinato control two important pests on African mahoganyKhaya senegalensisin the Northern Territory of Australia

Peng

Christian

Reilly³

2013

Australian Forestry

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African mahogany, Khaya senegalensis, is a high-value timber tree species. Pilot plantings showed that the species performed well in the wet-dry tropical areas of northern Australia, but the yellow looper, Gymnoscelis sp., and the bush cricket, Myara yabmanna, caused severe damage to the trees. The weaver ant, Oecophylla smaragdina, is an effective bio-control agent of a range of insect pests in tropical tree crops and forest trees. To determine whether the ants control these mahogany pests, field experiments were conducted from April 2006 to January 2009 at two sites near Darwin, Australia. The fraction of the total number of trees damaged per year was 4.2-32.4% by yellow loopers and 0-10.4% by bush crickets on trees with weaver ants, but 25-70.4% by yellow loopers and 25-100% by bush crickets on trees without the ants. The damaged trees with weaver ants were attacked on fewer occasions than damaged trees without the ants. Significantly fewer trees with weaver ants were damaged per monitoring occasion (2.1-8.4% at Berrimah Farm and 0.5% at Howard Springs by yellow loopers; 0-2.2% by bush crickets) than trees without the ants (24.2-51.3% at Berrimah Farm and 5.0% at Howard Springs by yellow loopers; 18.1-40.7% by bush crickets). Data suggested that weaver ants were effective bio-control agents of the two pests.

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Facilitating the use of alternative capsid control methods towards sustainable production of organic cocoa in Ghana

Cited by 38 publications

References 3 publications

Optimal pheromone trap density for mass trapping cacao mirids

Optimal pheromone trap density for mass trapping cacao mirids

Pesticides exposure and the use of personal protective equipment by cocoa farmers in Ghana

Using weaver antsOecophylla smaragdinato control two important pests on African mahoganyKhaya senegalensisin the Northern Territory of Australia

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