First bio-pesticides move closer to market in Ghana
19 January 2011
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Ghana is on the verge of having biological control agents commercially available in the country for the first time.
An RIU-supported initiative appears to be close to registering and making available the first four bio-pesticides in Ghana, building on a registration process that was developed with DFID funding in 2006.
Efficacy trials are currently underway for three products: Trichoderma, a fungus, to control Phytophthora, a fungus-like micro-organism that affects pineapples; Metarhizium, a fungus, for control of mealy bug on papaya; and a baculovirus for control of bollworm on tomatoes.
Trials of a fourth product, a baculovirus against diamondback moth which is a major pest of cabbages and other Brasica, are scheduled to begin in early 2011. This product has been shown to be effective during previous research funded by DFID.
Encouragingly, toxicological trials of the baculoviruses being carried out in India have demonstrated no toxic effects.
Mass production methods have been developed for all four products and a distributor in Ghana has been agreed.
Now the project partners, led by the Real IPM Company, are eagerly awaiting feedback from the registration authority, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ghana. At their meeting in December the EPA were scheduled to review the recommendation from their technical committee that these four biocontrol agents should be given provisional registration. If this is granted, then the first biological control products can be marketed in Ghana in early 2011, ahead of the next plating season.
Real IPM is also seeking certification from the Organic Control Union for Metarhizium and Trichoderma. Obtaining this certification would speed up the process of registration of these products on cocoa in Ghana.
19 January 2011
Tweet
Ghana is on the verge of having biological control agents commercially available in the country for the first time.
An RIU-supported initiative appears to be close to registering and making available the first four bio-pesticides in Ghana, building on a registration process that was developed with DFID funding in 2006.
Efficacy trials are currently underway for three products: Trichoderma, a fungus, to control Phytophthora, a fungus-like micro-organism that affects pineapples; Metarhizium, a fungus, for control of mealy bug on papaya; and a baculovirus for control of bollworm on tomatoes.
Trials of a fourth product, a baculovirus against diamondback moth which is a major pest of cabbages and other Brasica, are scheduled to begin in early 2011. This product has been shown to be effective during previous research funded by DFID.
Encouragingly, toxicological trials of the baculoviruses being carried out in India have demonstrated no toxic effects.
Mass production methods have been developed for all four products and a distributor in Ghana has been agreed.
Now the project partners, led by the Real IPM Company, are eagerly awaiting feedback from the registration authority, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ghana. At their meeting in December the EPA were scheduled to review the recommendation from their technical committee that these four biocontrol agents should be given provisional registration. If this is granted, then the first biological control products can be marketed in Ghana in early 2011, ahead of the next plating season.
Real IPM is also seeking certification from the Organic Control Union for Metarhizium and Trichoderma. Obtaining this certification would speed up the process of registration of these products on cocoa in Ghana.
| Key player in bio-pesticide control in Ghana looks at the advantages and challenges of the approach. July 2010 (5:05) |  |
