Environmental friendly pesticide launched in Ghana for cocoa farmers

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, which has been endorsed by the Tafo-based Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) in the Eastern Region, is a collaboration between Wienco, an agro-based company and Bayer, a global producer of agrochemicals.

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 on Tuesday 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% -30% 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.

Mr Edmund Dutauziet, Marketing and Food Chain Manager of Bayer said Confidor OTEQ has an active insecticide as its chemical group and also stressed the efficacy and environmental safety of the product.

Mr Marc Kok, Managing Director of Wienco-Ghana cautioned the farmers and farming groups, who attended the programme to destroy the empty chemical bottle, adding that it is dangerous to put it into any other use.

"A chemical will always remain a chemical,” he stressed.

Confidor OTEQ, which is packaged in one litre and 30 millitre bottles, is to be well shaken before application while the sprayers are expected to wear protective gear before administering the product.

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