**6. Conclusion**

The use of pesticides is often advisable and sometimes essential when a crop is threatened. Integrated pest management is a concept which is now generally known and widely

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accepted, and it is hoped that the judicious use of pesticides will be accepted as an integral part of pest management strategy. Technologies are presently available for the safe use of pesticides in cocoa and awareness of their correct and proper use needs to be stimulated (Bateman, 2008). However, introducing Good Agricultural Practices to the more than three million (often illiterate) smallholder farmers in the world cocoa economy is a major challenge. Ghana is making some strides in this area.

The clear indications are that the current agricultural practices for cocoa production are not sustainable, from both the environmental and economic perspective. Continued increase in the costs and amounts of chemicals put into the environment does not portend well for the future of this cash crop. The study has shown that current pests and diseases control practices in Ghanaian cocoa production which rely primarily on chemical methods, though well administered, results in more environmental damage. In the long term integrated pest management (IPM), which encourages natural control of pest populations, promises to reduce the use of pesticides. Some of the techniques used in this approach include enhancing natural enemies, planting pest-resistant crops, and, when absolutely necessary, efficient and judicious use of pesticides.

Pesticides continue to be attractive to most farmers and governments because they are simple to use, compared to the IPM methods, and returns on investments are not only good, but are predictable. A switch to IPM must be preceded by careful planning, and intensive education and training at the farm level, along with continuing research. In addition, promoting IPM will definitely require adjusting those subsidies and policies that encourage extensive pesticide use; otherwise farmers may not be able to resist the temptation of going back to their old ways.
