Taking on hazardous pesticides
CA's Pesticide Action Program brings together our research, awareness and advocacy work to reduce reliance on Highly Hazardous Pesticides in Ghana's cocoa sector — and to put safer alternatives within farmers' reach.
Evidence first, then action
Highly Hazardous Pesticides are cheap, widely recommended and poorly understood — a dangerous combination on Ghana's cocoa farms.
Our Pesticide Action Program tackles the problem end to end: studying why farmers use HHPs and what harm they cause, raising awareness among the farmers most at risk, campaigning for reform in the media, and promoting Integrated Pest Management as a safer, workable alternative.
Change begins with understanding — so the program starts with the farmers' own reality.
Five connected fronts
One goal: safer cocoa farming
From research to advocacy to alternatives, every strand of the program points the same way — fewer hazardous pesticides, healthier farmers and a healthier landscape.
Why Farmers Use HHPs
A CA & GIZ study finds affordability and recommendation the key drivers.
Read the study →The Awareness Gap
65% of men but only 5% of women could identify HHPs.
Read the study →Effects on Health
Around half of farmers reported skin and eye irritation after spraying.
Read the study →The IPM Alternative
With UTZ–Rainforest Alliance, we promoted Integrated Pest Management across three cocoa landscapes.
See the project →Advocacy & Media
Our 2020 partnership workshop calling to phase out HHPs drew national and pan-African media coverage.
See the coverage →Help take hazardous pesticides off the farm
Support the research, awareness and IPM work making Ghana's cocoa landscapes safer for farmers and nature.