Assessment of the incidence and intensity of major cocoa insect pest and Disease in southwest region of Nigeria

Abstract

A field survey was conducted in the cocoa growing states in Southwest Nigeria in the 2017/2018 year with the objective of assessing the incidence and intensity of diseases and pests affecting cocoa farms in the region. Data were collected by random sampling of 100 trees on three farms in three local government areas of each state. The trees were screened for the presence or absence of insect pests, disease symptoms, parasitic and saprophytic weeds. All the data generated were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics of their various means and reported in percentages. Black pod and the cocoa swollen shoot virus (CSSV) are the primary disease affecting the region with black pod being very severe (51.56%). Major insect pests in the region are cocoa mirid (11.44%), termites (13.16%) and the pod husk borer (7.46%). Mistletoes and moss weed pests were recorded in the region. Management strategies to control the pest and to prevent the transportation of the pest and/or disease material into a state of low incidence should be developed.