**2. Impact of anthracnose on mango production in Ghana**

Different kinds of diseases affect productivity of several plants contributing significantly to global food/fruit shortage. Destructions/Catastrophe caused by the outbreak of plant diseases in multiple plants as well as its impact on humans such as starvation, malnutrition and death have been well publicized. In Ghana, the impact of diseases on tree and horticultural crops have been reported and well documented. Mango production in Ghana has gained prominence in recent times with the projection of overtaking cocoa as the most economically valuable crop. The potential gains due the country from mango production is however, threatened by the existence and outbreak of multiple diseases due to the crop's susceptibility to several fungal pathogens. Mango is highly susceptible to diseases due to the high water-nutrient content which serves as a perfect media for fungal pathogen development [8]. Production and export of mango in Ghana keeps dwindling due to the prevalence and severity of diseases such as the anthracnose [9]. Among the many diseases limiting mango production is the Anthracnose disease caused by the fungus *Colletotrichum gloeosporioides* Penz. & Sacc. It is a major limitation to mango production as it has been reported to has led to a yield loss of 30% in the Yilo Kobo District of Ghana [10]. Similarly, about 39% yield loss in mango production in India has been attributed to anthracnose disease [11]. The disease is so devastating in crop production that it has also been reported that 60% of harvested avocado fruits affected by the disease were discarded and rendered unmarketable in Kenya [12].

Although the disease leads to massive losses in the field, the most significant loss occurs during post-harvest conditions. The post-harvest damage due to the disease is of more interest and economically relevant because it reduces the fruits quality as well as shelf life which invariably affects standard for the export market. This pose great challenge to various actors along the value chain especially those involved in international trade as low-quality fruits cannot be marketed on the international market. Although in some instances, producers and traders may sell these low-quality fruits on the local market, differences in revenue from export and local markets leads to serious economic loss to all stakeholders as well as mango exporting countries like Ghana as they are denied of foreign exchanges.

### *Anthracnose Disease of Mango: Epidemiology, Impact and Management Options DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.105934*

Attempts to mitigate the effects of anthracnose disease on mango production have centred mainly on the employment of conventional pesticides to treat trees and even fruits at harvest and storage. Although effective in minimizing the severity of the disease, this strategy is limited due to the growing negative concerns associated with fungicides on the environment, human health and rapid surge in antifungal resistance by several pathogens. In addition to these, is the high cost of these pesticides leading to increased cost of production to the farmer and reduced income which can further increases poverty in the rural economy.
