Pesticides usage in Cabbage (Brassica oleracea) Cultivation in the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality of the Ashanti Region of Ghana

Abstract

One of the setbacks to cabbage production in the forest ecozone of Ghana is insect pests. These insect pests are controlled in various ways, prominent among them being the use of pesticides. The objectives of this research were to document the various pesticides used by farmers in cabbage production and assess the mode of application of the pesticides About twenty six (26) different pesticides were used by farmers to control insect pests on cabbage. Sixty-one percent (61%) of farmers mixed two or more pesticides together without considering their compatibility or active ingredients but just relied on trade names. It was also revealed that some banned chemicals (like Lindane, Endosulfans and DDT) and those not recommended for vegetables (like Akate master i.e. bifenthrin, Confidor i.e. Imidacloprid+thiamethoxam and Cocostar i.e. bifenthrin+pirimiphosmethyl) were also being used. This suggested that such farmers clearly misused pesticides which affected the quality and safety of cabbage heads for consumption. Fifty-one percent (51%) of the farmers did calendar spraying which was usually between 3-4 days interval, whereas, the rest sprayed only when they noticed the presence of insect pests. Furthermore, 79% of the farmers continued spraying pesticides during harvesting period, hence no waiting period was adopted. Only, 21% of the farmers adopted a waiting period of one week, on the average, which in itself was not enough, considering the kinds of pesticides used. The study concluded that cabbage farmers misused pesticides, in terms of the type used and the quantities applied. In addition, consumers were exposed to high pesticide residue levels due to the limited or no waiting period before cabbage heads were harvested (least safe harvesting time).