GEPA provides funds to fight leaf miner infestation

The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) has provided financial support to the Oil Palm Research Institute to tackle leaf miner infestation of oil palm plantations in the Ashanti Region.

It has released GH¢88,260.00 to aid the spraying of about 1,100 acres of plantations attacked by the pests in the Ejisu Juaben Municipality. A statement from GEPA said the measure aimed to control the devastation and to stop the spread.

This tie in with its mandate to identify, develop and promote non-traditional products for the international market.

Leaf miner has devastating effect on the yield of oil palm, which invariably affects the export performance of processed oil palm to the international market.

The insect pests cause the lower fronds to wither, reducing photosynthetic materials available to the plant resulting in low yields and the likely collapse of the palm tree and the plantation as a whole.