6.6 Mass spraying and service providers (SSP)

In Ghana, safe and efficient application of insecticides against cocoa mirids, has long been considered best achieved by Government coordinated mass spray campaigns (CODAPEC) since the 1950s: which included provision of materials and training of spray operators.

However, there have been technical concerns about this approach and it has been suggested that mass spraying has not contributed to improving income from cocoa. [1] Operational priorities have encouraged calendar spraying (typically August through to December in West Africa) rather than the use of ‘action thresholds’ for mirid populations, compatible with IPM (see chapter 7). 

There have long been concerns that the “1950 recommendations on the timing of insecticide application need revising”. [2]

As an alternative to these large-scale campaigns on the one hand and the efforts of individual farmers at the other extreme, the concept of Spray Service Providers (SSPs) is to provide greater expertise through training and cooperation at (say) district level. 

The scheme has been promoted and funded by the World Cocoa Foundation and CropLife International, for the benefit of cocoa farmers in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon. An SSP is typically a farmer who has received special training to apply pesticides and hires out his services to fellow farmers to spray their crops. 

CropLife states that “The purpose of the SSP network is to ensure pesticides are only handled by those that are trained; to reduce the risk towards human health and the environment; to ensure the correct pesticides are used at the right dosage, for effective pest control and increased yields; to plan the purchase of pesticides and avoid the accumulation of obsolete stocks; and to safely dispose of used containers.” [3]