In the lush, sun-drenched mango orchards of Ghana’s Yilo Krobo Municipality, farmers face a daily battle against pests and diseases that threaten their livelihoods. Their weapon of choice? Pesticides. Yet, a new study published in the European Journal of Horticultural Science, translated to English as “European Journal of Horticultural Science,” reveals a troubling disconnect between policy and practice that could have significant commercial and environmental repercussions.
Esther Appah, a researcher from the Department of Sustainable Development and Policy at the University of Environment & Sustainable Development in Ghana, led the study that sheds light on the challenges mango farmers face in identifying approved pesticides. “We found that only one in five farmers could distinguish between approved and unapproved pesticides,” Appah explains. This startling statistic underscores a critical knowledge gap that could compromise food safety, environmental sustainability, and the competitiveness of Ghana’s mango exports.
The study, based on interviews with farmers, retailers, market women, and consumers, paints a vivid picture of the mango value chain. Farmers, often illiterate and lacking verification tools, rely heavily on retailers for pesticide recommendations. Retailers, while better informed, struggle to confirm the current approval status of pesticides due to ambiguous regulatory communication. “It’s a chain of uncertainty,” says one farmer, highlighting the difficulty in tracking registration renewals.
The implications for the horticulture sector are significant. Pests and diseases pose a real threat to mango production, driving farmers to use pesticides as a critical adaptation strategy. However, the prevalence of unapproved pesticides raises concerns about environmental safety, food security, and export compliance. As one retailer noted, “We need a practical solution, like a barcode scanning system, to enable real-time verification.”
The study’s findings could shape future developments in pesticide management and sustainable agriculture. By addressing the knowledge gaps and verification challenges identified, policymakers and stakeholders can promote compliance with pesticide regulations, safeguarding consumer health and protecting the environment. Implementing technological verification systems, enhancing farmer education, and strengthening retailer accountability could reduce the circulation of unapproved pesticides, ultimately enhancing the competitiveness of Ghana’s mango exports.
As Appah notes, “This study is a call to action. It’s about more than just mangoes; it’s about sustainable horticultural production systems, food security, and improving rural livelihoods.” The journey towards sustainable pesticide use in Ghana’s mango sector is complex, but with targeted interventions and policy reforms, the path forward is clear. The study, published in the European Journal of Horticultural Science, serves as a crucial step in that direction, offering insights that could resonate far beyond the orchards of Yilo Krobo.