Cocoa is one of the important commodities in Ghana, contributing to 3% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Application of pesticide in addressing the incident of pest and diseases on cocoa has become an issue of concern. This concern is based on the excessive usage of highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs) owing to several factors. In our recent study, we investigated some of these factors accounting for the excessive usage of these highly hazardous pesticides amongst cocoa farmers. From our findings, affordability and recommendation of HHPs were considered key factors influencing the application of these HHPs.

Affordability and recommendation of HHPs are major factors influencing the use of HHPs amongst cocoa farmers. Women cocoa farmers rely more on recommendations from families, friends, extension officers and pesticide dealers in choosing the right pesticides. The rate of Illiteracy plays a key role in this context, that is; since they cannot read, they are unable to read and understand the best pesticides approved for their cocoa farms.