Effectiveness of the eradication campaign of cocoa swollen shoot virus disease in Ghana: the extension and implementation problem

The cocoa swollen shoot virus disease persists in Ghana in spite of the implementation of an eradication campaign against the disease by the government since 1948. Two major factors are identified as limiting the success of the eradication campaign. First, the extension problem, namely, the low level of growers’ knowledge (know-why) concerning the disease, including knowledge of the causal agent (3.8%), the vectors (2.3%), and the recommended preventive measures (8% to 67%). Second, the implementation problem, namely, the failure of growers and government-employed labourers to follow the recommended policy of cutting-out and replanting cocoa farms. Thus, about half (51%) of the affected farms were not correctly treated, despite the specialized labour provided and paid for by the government to implement treatment. In addition, about 73% of the growers who treated their affected farms without government support did so incorrectly. Other factors include the direct treatment cost (US $513.00 ha⁻¹) to be borne by growers, as well as land tenure arrangements, and the waiting time of at least three years before the first harvest after replanting. A more researcher-grower collaborative approach in managing the disease could enhance growers’ knowledge and the adoption of recommended practices to limit the spread of the disease. In addition, policy decisions on a nationwide disease management strategy that require growers’ collective efforts should consider growers’ socio-economic conditions like land tenure arrangements and disease treatment cost (direct and indirect) incurred by growers.