Ghana and Israel collaborate to eliminate swollen cocoa shoot disease

Company News on Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Source: thecocoapost.com

2019-07-30

Ghana and Israel have signed a cooperation agreement to combat the disease of the cocoa shoot swelling virus (CSSVD).

Ghana is the world's second largest producer of cocoa, the main ingredient in chocolate.

However, a multitude of challenges, including illnesses, such as the CSSVD, militate against annual production targets.

In a further attempt to stimulate production, which currently stands at about 900,000 metric tonnes, the Ghana Cocoa Council (Cocobod) of Ghana's cocoa sector implemented a combination of interventions called productivity (PEP).

These include the rehabilitation of moribund cocoa farms, provision of free seedlings to farmers, mbad pruning of farms, subsidized fertilization, manual pollination, mbad spraying and irrigation.

It is in light of the increase in cocoa yields in Ghana that Cocobod has sought collaboration with Israel.

Cocobod and Volcani (ARO), Israel's national center for innovation in agricultural research and development, signed a protocol of collaboration on Tuesday, July 30, aimed at finding a permanent solution to the disease caused by the cocoa swelling virus. (CSSVD).

The brief signing ceremony took place at the Volcani cocoa processing center in Israel.

The collaboration also aims to optimize nutrition, irrigation and pollination of cocoa, as well as to improve the health and resilience of cocoa seedlings through a biochar solution in nurseries and during planting.

The collaboration is also expected to develop climate- and pest-resistant cocoa strains with favorable aromatic and health profiles, as well as other topics of common interest, such as shading / integrated irrigation, post-treatment and storage. harvest, reduction of post-harvest losses, etc.

Cocobod's general manager, Joseph Boahen Aidoo, who signed on behalf of COCOBOD, said in a press release "that it is necessary to work together to find an antidote to the CSSVD, because we can not wait anymore because the disease is a major threat to the survival of society. " the cocoa industry. "

According to the Ghana Cocoa Research Institute (CRIG), swollen cocoa shoot virus disease (CSSVD) has been a major obstacle to cocoa production since its discovery in 1936 in the eastern region of Ghana. .