A two-day thematic workshop to identify less toxic local potential micro insecticides for sustainable management of insect pests that damage key crops such as cocoa opened in Accra on Monday.
The workshop has brought together insect scientists and pathologists from the United Kingdom to team up with their colleagues in the University of Ghana, Legon, Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA).
It will examine, among others, the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of application practices for existing control agents, with a view to developing effective delivery systems for mycoinsecticides.
It is being sponsored by the Royal Society of the United Kingdom, a scientific research based organization that encourages scientific development around the world.
Dr Roy Bateman, a Research Fellow at the International Pesticide Application Research Centre (IPARC), Imperial College London, said the objective was to initiate and encourage "bottom up" networking between the United Kingdom and Ghanaian and Tanzanian scientists to develop new enduring partnerships that would ultimately result in future collaborative research.
It is also aimed at finding safer methods to control mirid, a cocoa infection, as an example of good agriculture practice component for cocoa farmers.
Following the joint Science Academies' G8 statements on Science and Technology for African Development, the Royal Society agreed to extend its regional focus from the Republic of South Africa to Ghana and Tanzania.
The funding scheme was part of a wider effort to assist the science communities of both countries and their higher education institutions in their efforts to undertake cutting edge research and provide high quality training for insect scientists.
The research would include work on entomopathogens of major pests of cocoa and other cash crops, especially those which have numerous pest problems and which are sprayed with a cocktail of pesticides.
He said areas eligible for support include agriculture (including animal health), water and sanitation, basic human health research, biodiversity and energy (including bio-fuels).
Dr. Bateman said it was expected that at the end of the workshop, a large project proposal that would relate to the national priority areas of agricultural sustainability by reduction of crop losses and exploitation of local biodiversity for insect pest management would be developed for funding.
Mr Clement Eledi, a Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture in-charge of crops, called for collaboration and partnership between MOFA and the African Regional Postgraduate Programme in Insect Science (ARPPIS) Centre at the University of Ghana, Legon, in capacity building to solve insect related agricultural problems in West Africa.
He said insect pests that developed resistance to pesticides required higher doses for their control, thus leading to high residue of pesticides on the produce and contamination of the environment.
"For this reason, among others, any research programme and other related activities which deemphasize the use of pesticides are most welcome," he said, and pledged the ministry's support in implementing the findings of the workshop.
Professor Clifford N.B. Tagoe, Vice-Chancellor, University of Ghana, Legon, said traditionally, farmers in most developing countries relied on crop rotation, intercropping and other mechanical methods such as removal of egg masses and destruction of crop residues to limit pest infestation on crops.
However, with the advent of pesticides, it had become the first control method against insect pests of choice not withstanding the many associated problems.
He therefore welcomed the use of entomopathogenic microorganisms in the management of insects and mites.
Professor B.K. Ahunu, Provost, College of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences (CACS), University of Ghana, Legon, said agriculture played a very significant role in the national economy, contributing not less than 36 per cent to Gross Domestic Product and accounting for about 49 per cent of foreign exchange earnings.
He said agricultural research was an essential strategy for enhancing national and household food security, alleviating poverty and stimulating growth and development.
"More importantly, research contributes to the enhancement of agricultural productivity, improvement in sustainable use of natural resources, lower food consumer prices and accumulation of physical and human capital among the poor or vulnerable farmers and households.
"Yet agricultural research aimed at achieving these gains, sometimes remains at pilot level with little widespread impact."