CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background
In general, agro–inputs use in agriculture include; agrochemicals and high quality seeds. Agrochemicals refer to substances used in the management of agricultural ecosystems. They include fertilizers, pH–adjusting agents, soil conditioners, crop–growth regulators and pesticides which comprise insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, rodenticides and nematicides.
In Ghana, the predominantly used agrochemicals include insecticides, herbicides, fumigants, fertilizers and growth regulators (Ntow, 2004; Laary, 2012).
The numerous benefits achieved by the use of agrochemicals can never be under rated. These benefits are largely associated with increased yields of crops with less spoilage during storage. In combination with genetically improved varieties of crop species with pest and drought resistance, agrochemicals have made tremendous contributions to the successes of the “green revolution.” This has helped to increase the food supply for the rapidly increasing population of humans on earth and by so doing ensuring food security.
Agrochemicals act fast when applied on crops and give better crop yields when properly applied. Their use also reduces the time spent on labour and cost of carrying out some of the tedious farm operations such as weeding and controlling insect pests. Agrochemicals also protect the health of humans and animals against vectors and diseases ensuring that farmers get high returns from their investments (Kasimo & Mndeme, 2002).
Farmers in a bid to increase yield and marketing potentials of their produce engage in the use of agrochemicals often in an indiscriminate manner. The chemical residues left in the produce can result in adverse health effects when consumed.
Agrochemicals, in recent times, have played an increased and significant role in vegetable production in peri–urban areas in Ghana owing to the practice of year round vegetable production. The continuous application of agro–chemicals is seriously hampering the ecosystem (Laary, 2012). The incessant use of, herbicides especially, reduces biodiversity, causes death of micro–organisms and the loss of plant and animal life. The health and lives of vegetable farmers may also be at risk.
Peri–urban vegetable production is fast gaining importance as well as an increasing role in the economy of Ghana by providing employment, income, foreign exchange and above all contributing to poverty reduction in the country. Tomatoes, garden eggs, onion and okra are among the important vegetable crops grown in Ghana.
Origin and economic importance of Okra
Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is an annual vegetable crop with an erect growth habit belonging to the Family Malvaceae. Okra is a heat–loving crop whose history can be traced to the Nile basin in Egypt where Egyptians have cultivated it for centuries, according to accounts of the crop in the thirteenth century (Gulsen et al., 2007). Okra spread through North Africa from the Nile basin and on to the eastern Mediterranean, Asia Minor, and India, spreading to the New World from Brazil and Dutch Guiana. By 1781, the crop was known as far north as Philadelphia (Oppong–Sekyere, 2011).
Currently, India is the largest producer of okra followed by Nigeria, Sudan, Iraq, Ivory Coast with Ghana being the seventh largest producer of okra in the world (Benchasri, 2012).
Okra is mainly grown for its young immature fruits and consumed as a vegetable, raw, cooked or fried. It is a common ingredient in soups and sauces. The fruits can be preserved by drying or pickling. The leaves are sometimes used as spinach or as cattle feed, the fibers from the stem for cord, the mucilage for medical and industrial purposes, and the seeds as a substitute for coffee (NARP, 1993). Okra seeds also contain a considerable amount of good quality oil and protein. The immature green pods and fresh leaves are used as pot herbs. The pods also contain a glutinous substance which thickens soups and stews. The fruits may also be preserved for later consumption when there is a shortage of fresh produce (DeLannoy, 2001).
Okra is grown in all the ten regions of Ghana, but the bulk of the produce comes from Brong–Ahafo, Northern, Volta, Ashanti and Greater Accra regions with production levels ranging between 20.2 metric tonnes and 25.2 metric tonnes from 1974 to 1983 (NARP,1993). Some exotic varieties grown in Ghana include Lady’s Finger, Clemson Spineless, Perkin’s Dwarf and Perkins Long Pod. Some local varieties also include “Labadi Dwarf”, “Nkrumah afuogya” and “Putsele”. They are mostly cultivated as annuals in West Africa but biennial and semi–perennial types may also occur.
Problem Statement
With good agronomic practices and irrigation, okra yield could exceed 3,300 kg/ha (Messian, 1992; Sinnadurai, 1992; Ofosu–Budu et al., 1999). However, under erratic rainfall, yield as low as 500kg have been reported although the crop can tolerate temporary drought conditions (Messian, 1992; Sinnadurai, 1992; Ofosu–Budu et al., 1999).
Okra production in Ghana is also constrained by many factors including attack from weeds and insect pests, diseases, nematodes and declining soil fertility, necessitating the use of high rates of pesticides and artificial fertilizers to boost production (Obeng–Ofori, 2008). High
levels of deterioration of fresh produce also affect production levels. About 25–40% of all
vegetables and other respiring fresh commodities produced worldwide each year have been estimated to deteriorate beyond usable qualities (Lioutas, 1988).
Okra pods have a short shelf life. The pods lose quality usually through blackening, shriveling and decaying within two days after harvesting under room temperature conditions. The indiscriminate applications of agrochemicals have been reported to contribute to increased postharvest losses (Ngure et al., 2009).Although the farmers at this level of production make their maximum profit from sales of their produce at the farm–gate, retailers and final consumers are those who incur postharvest losses and deterioration of the commodity.
Justification
Indiscriminate agrochemical use in peri–urban vegetable production in Ghana has been documented over several years (Ntow, 2004; Laary, 2012). However, the practice is still a challenge as farmers are keener on their economic gains from production than on effects of agrochemicals used on environment, consumer, health, storage and shelf life of the commodity.
Objectives
The objectives of this study were to:
- ascertain the current level of use of agro–input in peri–urban okra production
- Compare on–farm okra production in relation to experimental field production.
- Compare quality of on–farm produced okra pods in relation to okra pods from the experimental field production.
