Impact of storage practices and pest on the quality of cocoa beans in warehouses in Brofoyedru Cocoa District of Ghana

This study assessed the storage practices of five licensed buying companies (LBC) and pests which affected the quality of stored cocoa beans in the study area. The study comprised of field survey using questionnaires. Samples of stored cocoa beans were collected for periods of 0, 2 and 4 weeks of storage. Laboratory experiments were done to check physical quality characteristics using the cut test method, insect damage, purpleness and weight loss. Insects present in beans were checked using sieving net. The warehouses insects were trapped with insect pheromones (Storegard II). Survey data were analysed using IBM-SPSS version 16 and laboratory data was analyzed using Statistix statistical package 9th edition. Means separation were done using LSD at 5%. From the survey, 97% of the depot managers keep cocoa beans for 2-4 weeks before transporting. Also, 42.5% of the LBCs in the study area stored their cocoa beans in warehouse while the rest keeps them in stores or sheds. Only 17.5% removed cobwebs weekly, 30% did it monthly whiles 52.5% removed the cobwebs as and when noticed. However, 95.5%of the depot keeper’s checked the moisture content of the beans before storage whiles the rest did not. Ultra-low volume fogging was the key strategy used by the LBCs to control insect infestation. The key insect pest species found were Plodia interpunctella, Tribolium castaneum, Esphestia cautella and Rhyzoperthadominica. No significant differences (p=0.05) were found among the LBCs depotswhen physical qualities of beans were assessed. It was established that all theLBCs in the study area produced standard beans. It is, therefore recommended

that Pheromone traps be used for insect monitoring in warehouses.