Ghanaian cocoa farmers introduced to environmentally friendly pesticide

Confidor OTEQ, an environmentally friendly pesticide has been launched in Ghana to boost the production of the cash crop and the drive of the country to overtake Cote d’Ivoire as the lead cocoa producing nation.
Confidor OTEQ...is a collaboration between Wienco, an agro-based company and Bayer, a global producer of agro-chemicals.

The product is accredited to possess excellent sticking effect, optimum canopy coverage, increased speed of action, high retention in plants and pods and reputed for its active ingredient. It is also safe and efficacious against Akate (MIRIDS) and other pests.

The new formulation technology has outstanding “rainforestness,” excellent biological performance, improved contact to plant surface and modified to avert imitation or counterfeiting.

Dr Isaac Opoku, Deputy Executive Director of CRIG emphasised at the product launch that Confidor OTEQ is safe to farmers and would facilitate the desire of Ghana to increase its current cocoa production from 900, 000 metric tonnes to one million metric tonnes.

He said pest control was very relevant to boost the crop production, explaining that cassid for instance was a disease that accounted for 25 per cent to 30 per cent cocoa loss.

Dr Opoku said it took CRIG between three-five years to recommend a new product and having certified Confidor OTEQ, the institute would organise a comprehensive training programme from July 18 on the pesticide. The programme would attract the 64,000 mass spraying gangs, local chief farmers and other stakeholders.

The product carries the warning that “it is harmful to bees and must therefore not be sprayed on flowers.”

Wienco (Ghana) Limited, established in 1979 is jointly owned by Dutch and Ghanaian s, and specializes in the importation and distribution of high quality agro-inputs that meet international standards.

Joy FM