A survey of cabbage production and constraints in Ghana

A survey was conducted in 1993 to gather baseline information on cabbage production practices and constraints to develop safe management practices to combat insect pest problems on the crop. A questionnaire was used to gather baseline information from the 10 administrative regions of Ghana. The survey showed that cabbage was produced throughout the country, but less important in the Upper East and Western Regions. Cabbage production was noted to be increasing; however, pests and diseases were forces to reckon with, particularly in the Greater Accra, Ashanti, and Central Regions. About eight different cabbage varieties were grown in the country. Cabbage was produced all the year round on mainly rented lands in the urban centres. Both direct planting of seeds and transplanting of seedlings were practised. Notwithstanding, the first method had the problem of poor crop establishment. Major constraints identified included insect pests, namely Plutella xylostella and Hullela undalis, land acquisition and marketing. Plutella xylostella had become resistant to all available chemical insecticides in the country since 1990, and about 80 per cent of pesticides used to control pests on cabbage were chemical insecticides. Twenty chemical insecticides were used in controlling cabbage pests, most of which were not recommended. Ghana Journal of Agricultural Science Vol. 37 2004: 93-10