ANALYSIS OF ASPECTS OF THE CONVENTIONAL AND ORGANIC COCOA PRODUCTION SYSTEM AND PRODUCERS PERCEPTION OF THE USE OF BOTANICAL PESTICIDES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF COCOA MIRIDS IN TOGO

Cocoa mirids are the main insect pests of the crop in Togo. In order to contribute to a sustainable management of these pests, the present study aimed at analyzing some aspects of the cocoa production system in conventional and organic farming and evaluating the perception of producers on the use of botanical pesticides as a means of control. Thus, a survey questionnaire was administered to 178 producers, including 96 conventional cocoa producers and 82 organic cocoa producers. The producers surveyed occured in 27 villages in the prefectures of Agou, Akebou, Kloto and Wawa. The results showed that about 98% of conventional cocoa farmers and 100% of organic cocoa farmers mentioned mirids as major pests of the crop. The average infestation rate of the plantations was estimated at 40.79 ± 25.72% in conventional cocoa production and 44.93 ± 26.92% in organic cocoa production. The related average losses are respectively 13.09 ± 8.58% and 17.39 ± 10.93% in conventional and organic cocoa production. As a means of control, 98.93% of producers in conventional cocoa production versus 65.06% in organic cocoa production use at least one insecticide. Three (3) classes of chemical insecticides are used in conventional cocoa production: Neonicotinoids (48.15%), pyrethrinoids (41.66%) and organophosphates (10.18%). In organic cocoa production, Azadirachtaindica is the plant most used for mirid control. 31.71% of producers use Neem oil against 17.05% and 15.85% who use its leaves and seeds respectively. Regarding producer adherence, 81.96% of conventional and 91.46% of organic cocoa farmers believe that local plant-based bioinsecticides can help to control cocoa mirids 68.75% and 71.95% of these two respective groups are willing to use them if they are effective and affordable.