Practices and constraints to cabbage production in urban and peri-urban Ghana: Focus on Brong Ahafo and Ashanti Regions

2013

English

A survey was conducted during April-July in 2012 to assemble baseline information on farming practices and constraints to production of cabbage. A structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from cabbage farmers in Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions where cabbage is intensively produced. The level of education among the respondents was low as only 10% had tertiary education. Majority of the respondents (68%) did not own the lands they cultivated thus resulting in approximately 45% of them cultivating less than one acre of cabbage crop. Majority of cabbage farmers (62%) planted cabbage on raised beds. Cabbage production in the study area was characterized by high use of inorganic fertilizer (NPK). Fifty-three percent (53%) employed the use of watering cans in cabbage production. Farmers in their quest to mitigate the high Insect pest infestation; Hellula undalis, Plutella xylostella, Brevicoryne brassicae and Zonocerus variegatus, plant parasitic nematodes infection and pathological problems such as wilting of plants, leaf curl and leaf spots resorted to high frequency of pesticides application. It is expected that the information gathered from this baseline study would form the basis for the formulation and implementation of an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy to enhance safe and environmentally sustainable production of cabbages. This would reduce environmental degradation and ensure maximum protection for humans, domestic animals and wild life.

Osei, M. K.; Osei, K.; Braimah, H.; Mochiah, M. B.; Berchie, J. N.; Bolfrey-Arku, G.; Lamptey, J. N. L.