Cocoa Board bans use of Dursban

Accra, Aug. 9, GNA - Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) on Wednesday banned the use of Dursban and other chlorpyrifos-based pesticides for the spraying of cocoa farms; cocoa beans or bagged cocoa in storage. The ban is to ensure that Ghana's cocoa beans, reputed to be of premium quality throughout the world, is not contaminated. A statement the Public Affairs Department of COCOBOD issued in Accra said 93the use of such chemicals treating wooden pallets, cocoa sheds, cocoa warehouses and storage facilities is prohibited=94. It urged agro-chemical sellers to desist from selling such chemicals to cocoa farmers since it contaminated cocoa beans.