Economic Impact of Chemical Pesticide Ban on Mealybug Management in Commercial Banana Farms in Cameroon Highlights the Need for Policy Initiatives on Sustainable Alternatives

Banana (Musa spp.) production is source of food, income and foreign exchange, but banana mealybug (Pseudococcus elisae) infestation is a major production constraint that was only highlighted in 2007 following rejection of banana from Cameroon Development Cooperation (CDC) in international markets. I...

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Main Authors: Henry Ikome Becke, Tange Denis Achiri, Justin Nambangia Okolle, Nelson Neba Ntonifor, Christopher Ngosong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-01-01
Series:International Journal of Agronomy
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/ioa/2767388
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author Henry Ikome Becke
Tange Denis Achiri
Justin Nambangia Okolle
Nelson Neba Ntonifor
Christopher Ngosong
author_facet Henry Ikome Becke
Tange Denis Achiri
Justin Nambangia Okolle
Nelson Neba Ntonifor
Christopher Ngosong
author_sort Henry Ikome Becke
collection DOAJ
description Banana (Musa spp.) production is source of food, income and foreign exchange, but banana mealybug (Pseudococcus elisae) infestation is a major production constraint that was only highlighted in 2007 following rejection of banana from Cameroon Development Cooperation (CDC) in international markets. Increased banana rejection with the ban on chlorpyrifos insecticide-treated bags in 2019, requires insights on the current status of banana rejection and relevant policies. In order to advance evidence-based debates on policy implications of chlorpyrifos ban on banana trade, we explored secondary data from CDC at prechlorpyrifos ban (PreCB; 2014–2016) and postchlorpyrifos ban (PostCB; 2020–2022). Thereby, providing situational insights on impacts of mealybug infestation at CDC farms on market rejection of banana and financial losses in PreCB and PostCB. This will facilitate relevant policy formulations that can enable adaptation to current and future shocks on pesticide use and banana trade. Findings revealed no banana rejection due to mealybug infestation in at least 2 months of PreCB years, whereas banana was rejected in all 12 months of PostCB years. Rejection of banana bunches due to mealybug infestation increased by 6–folds in PostCB with the highest in February 2021 and January 2022. Monthly financial loss resulting from mealybug infestation differed significantly (p<0.029) between PreCB (∼US$3100) and PostCB (∼US$7600). Besides market rejection of banana and economic losses due to mealybug infestation, business rating and reputation of CDC are downgraded, highlighting the urgent need for policy initiatives to reduce dependence on chemical pesticides, and promote sustainable alternative management options.
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spelling doaj-art-efc947636dd348608f80eec5e5e8b14d2025-08-20T02:37:01ZengWileyInternational Journal of Agronomy1687-81672024-01-01202410.1155/ioa/2767388Economic Impact of Chemical Pesticide Ban on Mealybug Management in Commercial Banana Farms in Cameroon Highlights the Need for Policy Initiatives on Sustainable AlternativesHenry Ikome Becke0Tange Denis Achiri1Justin Nambangia Okolle2Nelson Neba Ntonifor3Christopher Ngosong4Department of Plan, Environment, Research and QualityDepartment of Agronomic and Applied Molecular SciencesDepartment of Agronomic and Applied Molecular SciencesDepartment of Agronomic and Applied Molecular SciencesDepartment of Agronomic and Applied Molecular SciencesBanana (Musa spp.) production is source of food, income and foreign exchange, but banana mealybug (Pseudococcus elisae) infestation is a major production constraint that was only highlighted in 2007 following rejection of banana from Cameroon Development Cooperation (CDC) in international markets. Increased banana rejection with the ban on chlorpyrifos insecticide-treated bags in 2019, requires insights on the current status of banana rejection and relevant policies. In order to advance evidence-based debates on policy implications of chlorpyrifos ban on banana trade, we explored secondary data from CDC at prechlorpyrifos ban (PreCB; 2014–2016) and postchlorpyrifos ban (PostCB; 2020–2022). Thereby, providing situational insights on impacts of mealybug infestation at CDC farms on market rejection of banana and financial losses in PreCB and PostCB. This will facilitate relevant policy formulations that can enable adaptation to current and future shocks on pesticide use and banana trade. Findings revealed no banana rejection due to mealybug infestation in at least 2 months of PreCB years, whereas banana was rejected in all 12 months of PostCB years. Rejection of banana bunches due to mealybug infestation increased by 6–folds in PostCB with the highest in February 2021 and January 2022. Monthly financial loss resulting from mealybug infestation differed significantly (p<0.029) between PreCB (∼US$3100) and PostCB (∼US$7600). Besides market rejection of banana and economic losses due to mealybug infestation, business rating and reputation of CDC are downgraded, highlighting the urgent need for policy initiatives to reduce dependence on chemical pesticides, and promote sustainable alternative management options.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/ioa/2767388
spellingShingle Henry Ikome Becke
Tange Denis Achiri
Justin Nambangia Okolle
Nelson Neba Ntonifor
Christopher Ngosong
Economic Impact of Chemical Pesticide Ban on Mealybug Management in Commercial Banana Farms in Cameroon Highlights the Need for Policy Initiatives on Sustainable Alternatives
International Journal of Agronomy
title Economic Impact of Chemical Pesticide Ban on Mealybug Management in Commercial Banana Farms in Cameroon Highlights the Need for Policy Initiatives on Sustainable Alternatives
title_full Economic Impact of Chemical Pesticide Ban on Mealybug Management in Commercial Banana Farms in Cameroon Highlights the Need for Policy Initiatives on Sustainable Alternatives
title_fullStr Economic Impact of Chemical Pesticide Ban on Mealybug Management in Commercial Banana Farms in Cameroon Highlights the Need for Policy Initiatives on Sustainable Alternatives
title_full_unstemmed Economic Impact of Chemical Pesticide Ban on Mealybug Management in Commercial Banana Farms in Cameroon Highlights the Need for Policy Initiatives on Sustainable Alternatives
title_short Economic Impact of Chemical Pesticide Ban on Mealybug Management in Commercial Banana Farms in Cameroon Highlights the Need for Policy Initiatives on Sustainable Alternatives
title_sort economic impact of chemical pesticide ban on mealybug management in commercial banana farms in cameroon highlights the need for policy initiatives on sustainable alternatives
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/ioa/2767388
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