Ghana’s cocoa industry, a key player in the global chocolate market, is facing a major challenge with 81% of the Western North region being affected by swollen shoot disease.
This devastating illness has been wreaking havoc on cocoa trees, reducing yields and ultimately killing them, Reuters reports.
The International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO) reports that this region, which is the country’s third largest cocoa producer, is currently struggling with over 330,000 hectares of infected land out of a total of 410,229 hectares. These staggering figures paint a grim picture of the situation on the ground.
Swollen shoot virus is a highly destructive disease that not only affects current crop yields but also hinders future production.
Infected trees need to be uprooted and the soil treated before new cocoa plants can be replanted, making the process both labor-intensive and time-consuming.
The outbreak of swollen shoot disease comes at a time when cocoa prices have surged due to adverse weather conditions in top-producing countries like Ghana and Ivory Coast. This has led to a global shortage of cocoa beans and a subsequent increase in chocolate prices.
The impact of this disease on Ghana’s cocoa production is therefore not only a local concern but also has significant implications for the global chocolate market.
Efforts are being made by the Cocoa Health and Extension Division (CHED) of Cocobod, Ghana’s cocoa industry regulator, to address the issue.
However, the scale of the problem is vast, with a total of 25.7% of Ghana’s cocoa growing land being affected by swollen shoot disease.
Despite the challenges faced by the cocoa industry in Ghana, there is hope for improved output in the coming seasons. With continued efforts to control the spread of the disease and support for farmers in the affected regions, there is a possibility of recovery and revitalization of Ghana’s cocoa production.
According to Steve Wateridge, a veteran world expert on cocoa, the problem of swollen shoot affecting cocoa trees is not showing any signs of improvement.
In fact, he revealed that an additional 100,000 hectares of land have become unproductive due to aged trees, adding to the existing challenges faced by farmers.
The country has already treated 100,000 hectares for swollen shoot, but the issue persists. After rehabilitation, it takes two to four years for replanted trees to mature and start producing beans, further exacerbating the situation.
Wateridge’s concerns are echoed by the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO), which has also noted the spread of swollen shoot in neighboring Ivory Coast.
However, Ivorian authorities have been cautious in disclosing the full extent of the outbreak.
This highlights the urgency of addressing the swollen shoot problem in the region before it deteriorates further and significantly impacts cocoa production.
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