- The document summarizes the activities of citrus innovation platforms (CIPs) established in Ghana to address angular leaf spot disease affecting the citrus industry. - With funding from FARA and the EC, three CIPs were launched in 2014 in Mankranso, Assin Foso, and Kade to bring together stakeholders to jointly address priority constraints. - The CIPs have trained farmers in good agricultural practices, conducted research on the disease and fruit flies, and established a WhatsApp group to improve communication. Over 3,000 farmers have adopted the technologies developed, improving fruit quality, quantity and incomes.

1. CONTROL OF ANGULAR LEAF SPOT OF
CITRUS IN GHANA
Francis Collison Brentu
University of Ghana

2. BACKGROUND OF THE CITRUS CONSORTIUM
● In 2011 PAEPARD opened a call for the
submission of concept notes
● PPRSD of the MoFA together with University of
Ghana submitted a concept notes on Angular leaf
spot disease of citrus which was selected
● PAEPARD then organized an inception workshop
in Accra to develop a strong partnership around
the sweet orange value chain
● Initially, the consortium partners included
CIGMAG, PPRSD, University of Ghana (CSD; FOHCREC), Pinora
Limited (Citrus processor) and Instituto Valenciano de
Investigaciones Agrarian, Spain (European partner-research actor)

3. INTERVENTIONS MADE BY FARA
● PAEPARD assisted in the formation of citrus
consortium in Ghana with funding from the EC
● Trained consortium members in partnership
formation both locally and internationally
● Sent consortium members to international
write-shops to build capacity of local scientists
to write winning proposals and submission of
proposals to some calls (AU, ARF and CRF)
● FARA and EC visited Mankranso in 2013 and
organized a 2-day citrus stakeholders forum to
give exposure to Pseudocercospora leaf and fruit
spot (PLFS) of citrus both at the local and
International level

4. Ghana’s Parliamentary Select Committee
on Agriculture at the Forum of awareness creation
about the PLFS

5. Stakeholders/FARA
appreciating the
problems of citrus
farmers in Mankranso
Dropped Fruits due
to PLFS (yield loss
50-100%)

7. EC delegate Observing diseased fruit

8. SUPPORT FROM FARA (SSA CP)
● Two consortium members were sent to a
workshop on Innovation Platform (IP) in Kigali
● A sub grant of $100,000.00 was awarded to the
consortium with funding from EC through IFAD to
SSA- CP to establish IPs to manage PLFS
● Trained consortium partners on IAR4D and how
to set up IP and launched Mankranso, Assin Foso
and Kade Citrus Innovation Platforms (CIPs) in
Ashanti, Central and Eastern regions respectively
● Partners: CIGMAG, Policy makers, Researchers,
Agriculture Extension officers, Agro-input dealers,
NGOs, GOs and Processors

9. ACTIVITIES OF THE CIPs SINCE AUGUST
2014
● 3-Day training of IP stakeholders on IAR4D / how
to setup IP in Kumasi, facilitated by FARA
● Launching of IP / selection of four priority
constraints for intervention by the platform
● Monthly meeting of IP stakeholders to jointly
discuss the priority constraints for intervention
- Jointly source solutions, implement the solution,
learn lessons to generate measurable socio-
economic benefits alone the citrus value chain

10. CIPs ACTIVITIES CONT’D
● Conducting research on PLFS / fruit flies and
socio-economic effects of PLFS on Ghana’s citrus
industry
● Training farmers and extension officers on GAPs
● Citrus value chain analysis / development of
business plan
● Strengthening of farmer based organization
(CIGMAG)

11. CONSORTIUM MEMBERS TRAINED IN IAR4D & HOW TO SET UP IP

12. FACILATATORS: DRS MUGABE AND FATUNBI OF FARA

13. STAKEHOLDERS PROITIZING CONSTRAINTS OF THE CITRUS INDUSTRY

14. INAUGURATION OF MANKRANSO CIP

15. PHOTO AFTER INAUGURATION OF CIP

16. KEY POLICY MAKERS AT MANKRANSO WITH FARA OFFICIALS

17. Participants at the launching ceremony in Assin Foso CIP

18. Participants at the launching of the Kade CIP in the Eastern Region

19. Section of participants at the CBAS financial management workshop held from 28th – 29th
December 2015.

20. A group picture of participants at the financial management workshop of CBAS
held from 28th – 29th December 2015.

21. Problems which
existed before CIPs

22. Leaves damaged by the disease

25. Isolation of the
causal organism
Pseudocercospora
angolensis

26. Conidia of P. angolensis

27. Ceratitis dittissima

28. Bactrocera dorsalis

29. CITRUS BEING REPLACED BY OIL PALM
AS A RESULT OF PLFS

30. Farmers sell off citrus farms to illegal miners

31. SOME SUCCESS STORIES OF THE CIPs
● Successfully established three operational
innovation platforms in three regions from the
Citrus Consortia
● Stakeholders at the CIPs have identified the major
constraints in citrus industry
● Extend technologies that were sitting on shelves
to farmers in collaboration with NGOs (CABI-
Plantwise) and GOs (GIZ), processing companies
and developed new technologies
● Made a statement on the floor of Ghana’s
Parliament about the PLFS of citrus by the
Chairman of sub committee on Agriculture – Hon.
Francis Arthur

32. SUCCESS STORIES CONTINUED
● Strengthening of the farmer based organizations
● Established Farmer Service Gangs as an
effective way of controlling PLFS of citrus and
other GAPs
● Trained 60 sprayers for the three CIPs and
provided them with $30,000.00 worth of agro-
inputs to manage the disease
And use the money as a revolving fund to sustain
the activities of CIPs even after the project
● Restore hope to citrus farmers some of them are
making money

33. ● Being able to stop the blame game among
stakeholders and cutting down of citrus trees in
most areas
● Control the disease using fungicides
● Start spraying at flushing (appearance of new
leaves)
● Repeat every four weeks with a maximum of 4
sprays per season
● Established WhatsApp platform to enhance
communication among members

34. Presentation of agro-inputs to the three CIPs
Representative from the Kade CIP receiving
items for the project
Items presented to the CIP

35. Representative from the Assin Foso CIP
receiving items for the project.
Representative from the Mankranso
CIP receiving items for the project.

36. PLFS controlled field Uncontrolled field

37. Pimenta Tree with Fruit Fly

38. Extract of Pimenta dioica captured many insects

39. Traps and Baits

40. IMPACT OF THE CIPs
• Over 3,000 citrus farmers have adopted the
technology developed nation-wide with support
from some stakeholders (GIZ, PINORA Ltd
Plantwise-CABI and the National fruit fly
Committee)
• Transporters of citrus fruits have also benefited
• Traders (> 70% being women and youth) involved
in selling of oranges both local and the sub
region

41. IMPACT OF THE CIPs
• Fruit quantity and quality has improved
and farmers and processing companies are
making money
• Agro-inputs dealers are making money
from sales of inputs
• Researchers more publications
• Policy makers happy for improvement in
the livelihood of the people

42. Thank you

43. Acknowledgements