Calneem: A commercial neem seed-based biopesticide for sustainable management of pests of vegetables in Ghana

Abstract

The production of vegetable crops is a major agricultural activity of small and medium-scale farmers in Ghana and has a great potential to increase the income levels growers. However, vegetable production is constrained among other factors by attack by insect pests, diseases, nematodes and the declining soil fertility, necessitating the use of pesticides and artificial fertilizers. Currently, the main method of controlling pests and diseases of vegetable crops is the use of synthetic pesticides. This paper examines the environmental, food safety, health and other problems inherent in the dependency on conventional pesticides to control crop pests in Ghana and advocates the need to develop a sustainable and environmentally sound alternative pest management strategy using neem pesticides as the major component. Native to India and Burma, the neem tree, Azadirachata indica A. Juss was introduced to Africa earlier this century and is now well established in at least 78 countries, including Ghana where it has become an important source of fuel, lumber and biopesticides. Neem products are broad spectrum bio-pesticides which are effective against several pests of vegetables, food crops, fruit and other tree crops. Using the results of extensive field trials conducted in two locations in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana, the paper would demonstrate the practical utilization of Calneem oil and Neem seed extract for sustainable protection of okra and cucumber against pest infestation in Ghana. It would also show that neem pesticides are less harmful to some beneficial organisms in the vegetable agro-ecosystem such as certain ant species, lady bird beetles, dragon flies and other predators. Practical challenges to widespread application of neem bio-pesticides for sustainable crop protection in Ghana are discussed.