One of the most important exports in the world is cocoa. Cocoa plantations in forested areas are the main source of foreign exchange for countries like West Africa. IPM uses an environmentally effective approach to pest management that relies on a combination of practices. IPM uses comprehensive information in combination with available pest control methods to manage pest damage with the least possible risk to the environment, people, and property.

 

The IPM approach can be applied to cocoa agronomic practices, this includes the use of biopesticides of plant origin, resistant cocoa varieties, and biological agents that can be used against plant diseases. IPM for cocoa plantations promises low-cost biological approaches to pest management, without affecting organisms and other beneficial insects like pollinators.

 

The use of IPM in cocoa plantations should be based on the behaviour, biology, and population dynamics of the plant pests and pathogens in different geographical regions of each producer country and should operate under favourable socio-economic conditions. IPM is a sustainable and effective approach to controlling and preventing pest incursions.

 

With new digital tools like the CABI BioProtection Portal, cocoa plantation protection can be made easier. This portal is an available guide for farmers and advisors who need to view products registered and that are available for their specific problems. Presently, there is no global pest outbreak alert and response systems for plant pests and diseases that may afflict important crops like cocoa. The only plant protection resource available for trade is the

 

Read more from our sources below!

 

Source:

Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute – Towards an Integrated Pest Management for Sustainable Cocoa Production in Ghana

IPM Symposium 2022 – Implementing IPM across Borders and Disciplines

EPA – Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Principles