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Cocoa sector to face dire climate change
challenges
Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, Ghanadot
Accra, May 25, Ghanadot - The global
cocoa sector is expected to face the dire consequences of
unpredictable nature in the near future
because of climate changes.
The expected consistent decrease in the output of cocoa would be
due mostly to irregular distribution
of rainfall, and reduced soil
fecundity.
At the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) of the Central
University College (CUC) monthly lecture series, held over the
weekend in Accra, a Lecturer of the Department of Environment
and Development Studies of the school, Dr. Steve Duadze, further
disclosed that climate variability would alter stages and rates
of development of cocoa pests and modify host resistance, as
water deficits had been shown to increase capsid damage.
He added that climate variability may increase the prevalence of
cocoa diseases such as black pod, if the normal short dry period
of July-August turns out to be very wet.
According to Dr. Duadze, “Reduction in output or termination of
cocoa production due to climate change, will affect national
income and the livelihoods of rural communities.”
Commenting on the general impacts of climate change on
agriculture, the Lecturer observed that the decline in soil
fertility, due to changes in rainfall and temperature, shift in
agro-ecological zones, and loss of pastures, would have
catastrophic effects on both plant and animal species.
Dr. Duadze attributed the loss of cropland, unwillingness of
banks to give agricultural credits for rain-fed farming, and
rural-urban migration, as some of pernicious issues which were
likely to throw more people out of employment, thereby leading
to poverty and disease in the country.
He therefore recommended to the Cocoa Research Institute of
Ghana (CRIG) and the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), to persevere
developing drought-tolerant, high-yielding, disease resisting
planting materials and improved agronomic practices, to sustain
cocoa production in Ghana.
Dr. Duadze called for strategic policies to support the
rehabilitation of degraded cocoa farms and forest lands,
encourage farmers to adopt efficient farming practices, and push
for long term investment in the areas of credit and land
acquisitions and stabilization of farmers’ incomes, through
effective pricing policies.
Ghanadot
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