Pesticides use in cocoa sector in Cameroon: characterization of supply source, nature of actives ingredients, fashion and reasons for their utilization

Abstract

The chemical control is the widely control method applied in Cameroon for pests and diseases by all the cocoa producers without technical suitable assistance by the State as before 1980'S. However, it is known that farmers have less knowledge on the good pesticides use for the control of a specific pest. The objective of this study was to provide insight in current pesticide use in the cocoa sector in Cameroon. A stratified sampling scheme was used. A total of 251 cocoa farmers, 20 post-harvest cocoa traders and 37 chemical retailers were randomly selected and interviewed. The study showed that 35 different chemicals were marketed in Cameroon for use in cocoa: 4 herbicides, 11 fungicides and 20 insecticides. Of 251 farmers consulted, 96.8% said that they use pesticides on their farms while 3.2% did not. Fungicides were used most often by farmers 61.8%) followed by insecticides (38.2%). Eight active ingredients although, officially banned, were still being used on cocoa farms. Over 77% of farmers do not respect the official spray recommendations for chemicals. Moreover, 64% do not respect recommended doses. Two main pesticide-supply-pathways exist in Cameroon: a legal and illegal supply chain, which provides 51% of pesticides to cocoa farmers, resulting in an estimated loss of value added tax for the Cameroonian government of about 550 000 to 2.4 million Euros per year. These results suggest that improved pests and diseases control by the State and raising farmer awareness about pesticide use in cocoa could greatly attribute to more sustainable cocoa economy in Cameroon. (Résumé d'auteur

Evaluation of 99 Pesticide Residues in Major Agricultural Products from the Western Highlands Zone of Cameroon Using QuEChERS Method Extraction and LC-MS/MS and GC-ECD Analyses

“…In Cameroon, pesticides are largely used by farmers and traders to protect their growing plants and products in the field and during storage [3,4,5,6,7]. Despite the numerous advantages of pesticide use in agriculture, there is a need for scientific evaluation and control of these products.…”

Cocoa Farmers’ Safety Perception and Compliance With Precautions in the Use of Pesticides in Centre and Western Cameroon

“…Specifically, potential cocoa yield losses as a result of black pod disease could be between 20-30% (Ndoumbe-Nkeng et al, 2004; Drenth and Guest, 2004). Another estimate indicated that potential global cocoa production losses as a result of black pod and pod rot fungal diseases could be as high as 44% (Mahob et al, 2014).…”

“…(Mahob et al, 2014) is a notorious form of attack on cocoa pods, which often accounts for significant yield losses depending on the effectiveness of adopted management practices and timeliness of spraying cocoa pods with appropriate agrochemicals (Guest, 2007). Specifically, potential cocoa yield losses as a result of black pod disease could be between 20-30% (Ndoumbe-Nkeng et al, 2004; Drenth and Guest, 2004).…”

“…Similarly, the contributions of cocoa to Cameroonian economy ever since the country obtained independence in 1960 cannot be overemphasized. Employment generated from cocoa value chain is quite enormous with the number of households deriving their primary incomes from its cultivation estimated at close to 600,000 (Mahob et al, 2014). Cameroon's cocoa outputs increased from 211,000 metric tons in 2013/2014 to 232,000 metric tons in 2014/2015, although some projections indicated that cocoa production would decrease to 230,000 metric tons in 2015/2016 (Statistical Portal, 2016).…”

Effect of Cocoa (<i>Theobroma cacao</i>) Plantation Types on the Distribution of Anuran Communities in Ore, Ondo State, Nigeria

“…Production and revenues from cocoa could be substantially higher if the plants were not confronted with strong parasitic pressures, diseases and insect pests (Mahob et al, 2014). Inorder to achieve this desire, farmers are engaged in the use of pesticides that reduces parasitic pressures to acceptable levels (Tadu et al, 2013).…”