The Economic Effects of Cape Saint Paul's Wilt Coconut Disease

The coconut palm is one of the most beautiful and useful trees in the world. It perhaps yields more products of use to mankind than any other tree. The coconut industry is connected with the economic life of the inhabitants of the coconut growing countries. The coconut industry, however, is faced with several problems that affect it production and competitiveness such as low yields, ageing palms, natural calamities, pests and diseases. The Cape Saint Paul's Wilt Coconut disease which was detected in Ghana in 1932 has devastated several thousands of hectares of coconut farms. This has adversely affected the livelihood of thousands of small-holder coconut farmers. The Nzema East District is one of the districts that is most affected by the disease since coconut is the major cash crop for the inhabitants. The Nzema East District Assembly derives a substantial amount of revenue from the sale of coconut products. The pig industry in the District also depends on the coconut industry for feed and building materials for the construction of sty.The total collapse of the coconut industry could spell doom for the farmers and the local economy.