NGGL AHAFO SOUTH PROJECT

AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENT AND LAND ACCESS PROGRAM

CASH CROP EXTENSION SERVICES

COCOA

OIL PALM

SOYBEAN

CITRUS

CHILLY
 INTRODUCTION • Place in each bag 1 fresh bean with

COCOA Cocoa is normally propagated by planting

seeds at stake on the field or by raising
seedlings, which is usually the best method
the pointed end up at a depth of 2
cm. (If in doubt place the bean flat
at the same depth in the soil)
due to the high percentage loss associated • Avoid sowing already germinated
with the direct sowing of seeds. beans.

NURSERY ESTABLISHMENT NURSING ON BEDS

• Seeds can be nursed in poly bags • Make beds 4ft wide and of any
PRODUCTION or on beds.
• It is advisable to use hybrid seeds •
convenient length.
With a string make lines 60cm
because of the following: apart along the entire length of
o Mature early each bed. On each line sow fresh
o Resistance to diseases beans 5cm apart with the pointed
o Produces more seeds per pod ends up.
GUIDE o Produces more pods per tree
o Easy to harvest due to short
• Water the seedlings as and when
necessary, erect shade using palm
height fronds to protect the seedlings.
Hybrid seeds can be obtained from
recognized cocoa stations LAND PREPARATION
SITE SELECTION
SITE SELECTION • Area should be fairly level
• Site should be accessible • Construct canal at waterlogged
• Soil should be well drained areas to drain excess water
• Site should be near a source of • Area should have enough rainfall
PREPARED BY: water (1500-2000mm per annum)
AILAP TEAM • Clear land and leave 5 – 8 trees
KENYASI NURSING IN POLY BAGS /acre to provide permanent shade.
• Fill poly bags with topsoil to about • Temporal shady trees should be
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION an inch to the brim established with food crops
CONTACT:
OICI
• Arrange them in rows leaving (plantain) or Gliricidia before
KENYASI 2006 paths (1.5 ft –2 ft) transplanting
• Water the soil in the bags
TREES TO BE USED FOR SHADE • Mulch around the plant, but
DESIRABLE TREES prevent it from coming into
Emire, Odum, Awiemfo samina, contact with the collar
Oforuntum, Nyame Dua.
FIELD MAINTENANCE
UNDESIRABLE TREES • Brush farm 4x a year
Onyina, Watapuo, Krabire, Odwuma, Cola • Remove chupons and mistletoes
TRANSPLANTING Fertilizer application
• Transplant seedlings at 4 – 6 Age of plant Fertilizer Quantity
months old 1-3yrs S.Ammonia 70gm/plant
• Transplant in May – mid July or (matchbox full)
when the rainy season is well Above 3yrs Asase wura 3bags / acre
established. Coco feed 3bags / feed
• Space at 10 ft. x 10ft. (3m x 3m) to
give you 435 plants / acre or 1111 MAJOR PEST AND DISEASE
plants /ha. Capsid and Black Pod
• Water copiously plants ready for Control measures:
transplanting Capsid
• Transplant in the early hours of the • Spray 4x / year with recommended
morning or late afternoon insecticide.
• Dig a hole up to the dimensions of • Spraying period (August-
the nursery bag December)
• Cut the plastic bag from top to
bottom Black pod
• Place the seedling in the hole; • Chemical + cultural methods
remove the plastic , take care that • Spray cherelles at 3 – 4 weeks
the collar of the young plant intervals with recommended
remains at ground level fungicide.
• Fill the hole with soil, firm by • Remove pods starting to blacken
treading. immediately, bury or burn them
• Reduce humid conditions
prevailing.
 Botanical Name: Elaeis guineensis • Planting material should be 10-12
OIL PALM ENVIROMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
months old.

PLANTING DISTANCE
SOIL TYPE • Planting distance is 29 ft. triangle or
• Select well-drained soils. 8.8m triangular (equilateral) in North
PRODUCTION • Land should be fairly flat and high in
organic matter. •
– South alignment.
An initial baseline East to West is
• Valley bottoms and lower slopes are necessary.
also ideal for cultivation. • Dig holes to plant seedlings.
•
GUIDE AREAS SUITABLE FOR PRODUCTION
Put into hole some top soil and
fertilizer (0.5kg, NPK)
• Forest zones of Western, Central, • Plant seedling such that the top of ball
Eastern, Brong-Ahafo, Ashanti and of soil around the seedling is level/flat
Volta regions. with the soil surface.

RAINFALL REQUIREMENT PROTECTION OF YOUNG

• An average rainfall of 1500 mm and TRANSPLANTS AGAINST RODENTS
well distributed throughout the year. Protect young seedlings against rodents with:
• Wire collars
VARIETIES • Raffia collars,
• Dura, Tenera and Pisifera. The • Split bamboos etc.
recommended variety is Tenera Ensure regular circle weeding at 1m- 2m radius
6-8 times /annum manually.
LAND PREPARATION
• Clear land, practice zero/control POST PLANTING OPERATIONS
burning
• Dig trenches for drainage if necessary, Fertilizer Requirements
clear natural waterways and /or raise Age of plant Quantity of NPK
PREPARED BY: mounds in very wet areas. (Year) 15-15-15
AILAP TEAM 1 0.6 kg/plant
PLANTING 2 1.2 kg/plant
• Plant on the onset of major rains, 3-5 2.4 kg/plant
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 6 and above 3.0 kg/plant
CONTACT:
preferably in May-June.
OICI • Planting can be done in minor rainy Apply fertilizer in rings at 30-90cm radius at
KENYASI season in wet areas. the base.
WEED CONTROL PESTS AND DISEASE CONTROL
• Plant cover crops (e.g. Pueraria,
Centrosema etc) to control weeds. LEAF MINER
• Do circle weeding by slashing 1m- The larvae eat the green part of the leaves,
1.5m radius from base of the plant causing desiccation of fronds.
every 6 weeks, and inter row weeding The fronds turn completely brown.
3 times in a year. Browning starts from the lower fronds where
attack starts.
FROND PRUNING
• Pruning starts 6 months after 1st MANAGEMENT
harvest. • Prune affected leaves.
• Ensure a minimum of 2 palm fronds • Spray with recommended insecticide.
below the lowest bunch. Pruning is
done in the dry season at 9months RHINOCEROS BEETLE
interval for palms less than 10 years • Attacks and destroys the growing
old and7 months’ interval for palms points, young leaves and
10 years and above. inflorescence.

HARVESTING MANAGEMENT
• Plant matures in 3-4 years. Physical removal of pests, removal and
At this time, hands pick ripe nuts; do not cut destruction of breeding sites i.e. decomposing
bunch or branches with cutlass. organic matter including farm yard manure
• 10-14 days harvesting interval is heaps and/or use of cypermethrin drenched in
recommended. Ensure minimal sawdust and put in growing points of palm.
removal of fronds during harvesting.
WILT DISEASE
EXPECTED YIELD • Larvae hatched from eggs lay in
wounds on trunks attack vegetative
• 10-15 tonnes/ha (4-6 tonnes/acre)
parts causing yellowing of the young
leaves.

MANAGEMENT
• Avoid wounds during pruning and
harvesting.
• Treat with recommended insecticides
like dursban, dimethoate and
cymethoate.
 SOYBEAN CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
SOYBEAN STEPS TO INCREASE PRODUCTION
VARIETIES

• Select a good site Variety Maturity Yield

• Plant an improved variety Days Bag/ Acre
• Use good seed Sallintuya – 2 105-115 4–6
• Plant so that it can be harvested under Sallintuya – 1 120-130 6–8
relatively dry conditions Bengbie 100-110 5–7
• Plant in rows Anidaso 105-115 7-7
• Sow the seed about 3cm deep
PRODUCTION •
•
Control weeds early
Harvest early
PLANTING
• Conduct germination test 10 days
• Store in a cool dry place. prior to planting. Take 100 seeds and
plant them in a trench 1-2m long.
SELECTING A SITE Cover with soil and water well. Count
• Soybean may be grown in all parts of the number of seedlings emerged after
Ghana except in the acidic soils of the I week.
high rain forest and drier savannah • If 85 or more seedlings: - Plant at
areas. recommended seeding rate.
GUIDE • The best environments occur in the
savannah and the transition zones.
• If 70-84 seedlings: - increase-seeding
rate by 25%
• If less than 70 seedlings: - get new
CHOOSING A VARIETY seeds
Choose from the four high yielding varieties
that have been released by the Crop Research PLANT SPACING
Institute: • Plant in rows at 75cm x 5cm and at
• Sallintuya – 1 3cm deep.
• Sallintuya – 2 • Germination takes about 12 days
• Bengbie • 30 lb of seed is required for an acre
PREPARED BY: • Anidaso
AILAP TEAM The seeds can be obtained from registered seed TIME OF PLANTING
outlets • In the transition, forest and savannah,
it is planted in May – August so that
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT: the harvest will coincide with the dry
OICI period.
KENYASI
FERTILIZER APPLICATION HARVESTING
• Apply NPK: 15-15-15 at 1-2 bags • Soybean is ready for harvesting when
/acre about 95% of pods have turned brown,
• Apply preferably at planting or tan or gray depending on variety.
immediately after emergence. • Sun dry for 2-5 days and thresh.
• Remove haul and winnow to obtain
WEED CONTROL clean seeds.
• Weed control is very important, • Sun - dry grain to about 10-12%
especially during the 1st four weeks moisture before storing in poly bags/
after planting. sacks under cool dry conditions.
• Two weedings within the 1st four
weeks is normally efficient to control
weeds in soybean.

INSECT CONTROL
• Insect damage may be negligible and
there may not be the need to apply
insecticide.
• However where pest cause problems,
spray with systemic insecticide
(Dimethoate, Thiodan, Perfekthion
etc.)

DISEASE CONTROL
• Recommended varieties are fairly
resistant to most of the diseases in
soybean

RODENT CONTROL
• Rats, mice, rabbits and other rodents
can cause serious damage to seedlings,
especially in forest areas by eating the
leaves, tops of the plant and also green
pods.
• The rodents can be controlled by using
bait or by scarring for the first two
weeks of seed emergence.
 CITRUS Land preparation: Slash, line and peg at 6m X 6m

CITRUS Botanical Name: Citrus spp

and remove all stumps within 6m radius of the plant
to avoid root rot. Special attention should be given
to stumps of avocado and cola trees.
Important of commercial varieties Planting: Plant seedlings between April and May to
take advantage of the early rains. Where available,
1. Sweet orange Citrus sinensis mix well decomposed poultry manure with soil and
Based on maturity times we have the following plant. Where manure is not available apply 15-15-
citrus varieties: 15NPK at 10g per plant 4 weeks after transplanting.
The size and depth of hole should be such that there
Maturity Varieties will be no depression. Mulch plant with any
Early maturing (Aug-Oct Ovaletto, Skkan available organic material.
PRODUCTION Mid-season(Oct-Jan) Obuasi, Mediterranean
sweet, Red Blood Intercropping: Citrus can be intercropped with
Late maturing (Mar-Apr) Late Valencia, Olinda maize, plantain, cocoyam, cowpea, groundnuts and
and Frost Valencia vegetable but not cassava. Intercrop about 1m away
from citrus plant.
2. Tangerine Citrus reticulate
Pruning: Ensure that all offshoots are pruned
Satsuma (May-June) and Puncan (Sep-Oct) periodical from the rootstock at the early stages of
the plant growth. All dead and diseased limbs and
Other available citrus varieties: Grape fruit, branches that may touch the ground and allow ant
Lemons, Lime, Tangors, Tangelos and ortanique. infestation must also be pruned.

GUIDE Rootstocks: Rough lemon, Cleopartra mandarin,

Volkanmeriana, Swingle citrumelo and Rangpur
Fertilizer application: Use soil analysis as a guide
for fertilizer application. In the first 4 years
lime. thoroughly mix 1-part each NPK 15:15:15 and Urea.
Apply 20-50g (i.e., 4-10 match boxes) of the mixture
Source of planting material: Unversity of Ghana- per plant depending on the growth vigour and leaf
Agric Research Station, Kade. colour of the plants. (i.e., when leaves are pale
green)
Suitable areas of production in Ghana: Central, At the fruiting stage (i.e., 4th year after planting)
PREPARED BY: Eastern, Volta and Ashanti regions. Valley bottom thoroughly mix 1 part each of Urea, NPK and
AILAP TEAM and Hilly areas in these regions should be avoided. Muriate of Potash and apply 0.5 to 2kg per plant
depending on the previous season crop yield. This
Site selection: Fertile, well-drained, light loamy and should be applied at flowering. It is best applied in a
FOR FURTHER circular band 40 t0 60cm in width on both sides of
INFORMATION moderately deep soil with PH of 5-6.5 is preferable.
Orchard should be easily accessible. the outer ends of the branch spread. 30kg well
CONTACT decomposed poultry manure can also be applied per
OICI
plant.
KENYASE
Irrigation: Give supplementary irrigation when spraying with decis, dimethoate or dursban can
necessary especially during the dry season by control these aphids.
pouring water into 65cm long inverted bamboo
sticks placed 30cm away from the tree stem, 15cm Mites: they cause leathery leaves and distorted rinds
deep and 50cm above the soil surface. of fruits. Apply approved fungicide e.g. That
flowerable sulphur at 60ml per 15L.

Harvesting: Judge maturity by colour break of the DISEASES

rind and taste ( brix 9-10, acidity 1.1-1.2 and 40%+
used volume). Harvest fruit individually by clipping Gummosis: Caused by ( diplodia natalensis) treat
or pulling with slight twisting. Do not shake tree as early infestions by removing diseased bark until you
this increases post harvest losses. Cure should be reach the white stem and paint with ridonil mixture
taken to avoid fruit injury. of 10per 650ml of water.

Farm hygiene: After harvest, collect all rejected PARASITES

fruits either bruised, insects damage, or diseased
fruits and bury them deep in the soil. Practice routine Mistletoe: is a parasite recognized by a cluster
weed management to avoid high humidity in the creepers with beautiful match size yellow folwers
farm. and red tips growing at the tops and sides of infected
trees. Control is by cutting out the creeper with a
Diseased and pest control: the most serious citrus pruner.
diseases and pest in Ghana:
Fruit fly (ceratitis capitata) is the major insect pest Yield: Citrus start bearing between three to four
of citrus in Ghana. The fly lays its eggs in the fruit years after planting. The trees stay in full production
leading to premature ripping and fruit drop. The for over 20 years and starts to, decline.
larvae pupate in the soil and come out as a fully
mature insect. To control, harvest; collect and bury Post Harvest Management; Sort out diseased,
all infested fruits deep in the soil, use pherormone bruised and damaged fruits and grade into sizes.
bait to trap insects, or, three months before harvest, Package into well ventilated boxes. Treat fruits
begin routine spraying with recommended gently to avoid bruises.
insecticides (e.g., Dursban, Decis). Application
should be either in the morning up to 10am or late in
the afternoon from 3-5pm. Fruit fly attacks peak
between July and August.

Aphids: Can do serious damage, especially to young

trees with new and tender foliage. The black citrus
aphid, toxoptera citricidus damages nursery trees and
transmits tristeza or dieback. Another aphid,
toxoptera aurantii causes leaf curle. Regular
 CHILLI PEPPER germination and provide shade over the bed.

CHILLY BOTANICAL NAME: Capsicum spp(L)

Careful watering with a watering can with fine
hoses is important. Diseased, weak and mal-
formed seedlings should be thinned out.
SUITABLE VARIETIES
Legon 18, Jalepeno, M12 NPK fertilizer 15-15-15 could be given in
solution (dissolve 5g NPK per 1 liter of water)
SOIL REQUIREMENT 2-3weeks before planting out. Seedlings should
Hot pepper does well on well drained, fertile be hardened before transplanting to the field by
soils with sufficient organic matter. gradually reducing the amount of water supply
or the shade to at least one day full exposure.
PRODUCTION LAND PREPARATION
Good land preparation is important in pepper PLANTING
cultivation to help in the crop establishment Transplant seedlings when they are between 5-
and weed control. Manure could be broadcast 6 weeks old. This should be during the latter
part of the rainy season.
GUIDE at a rate of between 8-10tonnes per acre and
ploughed into the soil.
Manual land preparation could be practiced Pepper can be grown during the dry season
where mechanical means is not possible. with irrigation. The recommended spacing is
55cmx75cm

SOWING
Seeds are nursed before transplanting to the MAINTENANCE
field to allow for good care and also crop Mulching should be done especially in the dry
establishment on the field. season to help conserve moisture. Irrigation or
careful but regular watering is important. Two
or three periods of shallow hoeing are adequate
Nursery
Seedbed size should be 1.2m wide and to any Fertilizer Application; NPK 15:15:15 fertilizer
PREPARED BY: convenient length. After making seedbed, can be applied 10 days after transplanting at a
AILAP TEAM water seedbed, cover with dry grass and burn. rate of 100kg per acre. Side dressing with
It helps to control pathogens that may be Sulphate of Ammonia at a rate of 50kg per acre
FOR FURTHER present in the soil. Sow the seeds in drills. after 4 weeks of transplanting to the field so as
INFORMATION Cover seedbed with palm fronds or dried non- to stimulate growth and development.
CONTACT seeded mulch material. Seeds germinate within
OICI
KENYASE 4-6days. Remove mulch material after
PESTS AND DISEASES HARVESTING
Most peppers mature in 8 to 10 weeks after
transplanting. Harvest at 10-day intervals for
Pests mature green export quality peppers.
Common pests of pepper are aphids, mites, Harvested fruits should be kept under shade in
white flies, thrips and leaf miners. These can be well ventilated containers. Sorting, grading and
controlled with pesticides e.g. Decis, packaging activities should be done under
Cymethoate, Dursban, Karate or Actellic and shade. Transport fruits during the cool hours of
organic preparations. the day.
Diseases After 75% of the fruits are harvested mature
Some of the common diseases of pepper are green for export, the rest is allowed to ripen
Anthracnose, Damping Off, Mosaic and Leaf (not rotten) on the plants and harvested weekly
Curl diseases. for the local market.
Damping Off
It is caused by a fungus. It attacks seedlings on YIELDS
nurseries. Control is by selecting well-drained Yields vary greatly with cultivar, system of
area for nursery and regular irrigation. The use cultivation and management. Current average
of fungicides e.g. Dimethoate. yields is 9-10 tons/ha.

Mosaic
Caused by a virus and transmitted by whiteflies
and through mechanical means.

Damage
Mottled green, yellow and curled leaves.

Leaf Curl
Mites have been observed to cause leaf curl.
Affected plants appear stunted.
Thrips and aphids also transmit the disease.
Control by using Dursban.
 POST HARVEST HANDLING OF
POST HARVEST HANDLING PEPPER FOR LOCAL AND EXPORT After harvest, clean, sort and grade. Weigh and
MARKET pack in fiberboard boxes with ventilated holes.
Weigh 5kg per box. Store at 4-7˚C and at 90-95RH.
ESL should be 10-15 days.
INTRODUCTION
Pepper, comes from the fruits of the capsicum.
SCHEME FOR DRIED PEPPER
OF Capsicum Frutescens is also known as chilli,
• Select only red-ripe ones
pimento or cayenne.
• Remove stalk
Peppers are grown in all the regions of Ghana. The • Grade (the size must be uniform)
main exportable varieties are: • Wash in cold water to remove soil and
CHILLIES AND CAPSICUMS fertilizer
• Legon
FOR EXPORT • Birds eye • Blanch to fix colour. Deactivate enzymes
• M12 and kill insects and pest for 5-10 minutes
The varieties can be traded as fresh or dried. • Dry in solar or mechanical dryer to
moisture 10%
Critical factors to consider in pepper production as
a business: If the above scheme is followed, the fruit will
• Choice of crop- potential for satisfying have:
market • High pungency
• Adaptation of variety - testing critical to • Bright red colour
prevent costly mistakes • Glossy surface without moulds
• Superior varieties to ensure high quality • Uniform size
AND LOCAL MARKETS crop
• Good production planning ensures - PACKING
(FRESH & DRIED) • Dried pepper is packed in woven.
reliability and consistency
• Quality supply good record keeping • Polypropylene or just sacks at 25kg
weight.
Requirements for the fresh market: • Dried ground pepper is packed in sacks
• Good quality pepper with plastics inner lining.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
• Avoid harvesting immature, unripe and
CONTACT STORAGE
OICI over-ripped product
KENYASE • Avoid worm infestation • Area must be clean, free from insects
• Harvest pepper with the stalks intact infection
• Area must be dried and weather-proof
 • Sacks should be packed on raised
platforms to allow circulation of air and to
guard against dampness
• Chillies must be stored for more than 6
months before export.

EXPORT SPECIFICATIONs
(a) British Standard Institution (dried pepper)
• Moisture content max 11%
• Total ash content 10%
• Ash insoluble in HCL 1.6%
• Non –volatile(other extract permitted min)
15%

(b) The British Pharmaceutical Code

• Calyces and pedicels 3%
• Foreign organic matter 1%
• Ash content 8%
• Capsium content 1.5%

(c) American Spices Trade Association (ASTA)

Cleanliness Specifications
• Rodent excreta 2%
• Other excreta mg/1b 8%
• Extraneous matter %W 0.5%
• Whole insects (dead) 2.5%
• Mould %W 5%

The content of each package must:

• Be uniform in size
• Contain fruits of same origin, variety and
quality.