Decreasing pesticide use for sustainable fruit processing in Ghana

Kingdom Fruits, a Ghanaian fruit processing company, had been using an unhealthy amount of pesticide on its fields for weed control. The Development Institute, a Ghanaian NGO, engaged with them to reduce their pesticide use. The NGO also interacted with its labourers on several occasions to inform them of the dangerous effects of pesticide application, especially when users are not properly clothed. Now they only use pesticides when mango trees are young and no longer use them on the fruits. The Development Institute advised the company on alternatives, such as using live mulching instead, which they have now adopted. In addition, the NGO has set up a WhatsApp group in which businesses in their target landscape can exchange technical knowledge specifically on best agronomic practices, organic pesticide, as well as information on the costs of planting material and other products.