IRIN reports outbreak of black pod disease in the south western cocoa-producing area of Côte d'Ivoire
30 July 2010

IRIN - the humanitarian news and analysis website has reported an outbreak of black pod disease in the south western cocoa-producing area of Côte d'Ivoire

Andy Ward of RIU said:

"We will be monitoring the outbreak of black pod disease (Phytophthora) in Côte d'Ivoire's neighbours. An outbreak of this devastating fungus could wipe out crops and livelihoods.

The RIU Best Bet operating in Ghana aims to register a biopesticide- Trichoderma, a fungus to tackle black pod disease - and also other biological control agents against a range of crop pests. Trichoderma has been shown to kill Phytophthora and so is potentially a useful additional weapon against the disease, in fact it is a vital weapon for the growing organic cocoa farmers

Ghana adjoins Côte d'Ivoire and so it remains to be seen where the disease will spread, as it has no respect for national borders.

This outbreak is likely to create a sense of urgency in Ghana which, we hope, may hasten registration of the Real IPM Company's biopesticide to help stop this disease in its tracks"