Mango Farmers in the Shai Osudoku district  to control Bacteria Black Spot disease

With support from WACOMP –Ghana,  48 mango farmers and 20 Agric Extension officers in the Shai – Osudoku and Somanya districts have been trained on Plant Disease Control and safe handling of Agro-chemicals from the 8^th to 11^th March 2022.

The mango sub-sector in Ghana is confronted with many challenges which include the incidence of pests and diseases and abuse of agrochemicals which affects the exports of fruits. Bacteria Black Stop (BBS) is a highly impacting disease of the mango sector. The disease was first observed in Ghana in 2012 and has reached an epidemic level in most areas where mango is grown in Ghana.

Bacterial Black Spot can cause 80% yield loss if not controlled and is currently the number one problem of mango farmers in Ghana.

Hitherto, the country was making close to €100,000 from the exports of mangoes every month but this figure plunged to €60,000 due to the disease incidence.

WACOMP – Ghana as part of contributing to issues relating to the conformity of quality exports of mango and managing the BBS, organised a 4 – day of training for selected mango farmers of Damfa, Yilo and Klu enclave and the  Agriculture Extension Agents (AEAs) working in the districts to control the spread and the appropriate way of use of agrochemicals to meet export requirements.