Ghana is on the verge of losing all mango plantations to blackspot bacteria, a disease that attacks and destroys mangoes.
According to experts, the blackspot disease could cause more harm to mango plantations and may even affect the agricultural sector in the country.
Dr. Anthony Pile, the founder of Blue Skies Company Limited who disclosed this to Citi News on the sidelines of the commissioning of some projects to mark the 10th Anniversary celebration of Blue Skies Foundation said a number of jobs may be lost if the disease is not tackled.
“At Blue Skies we are fighting something called bacteria blackspot. It is a nasty bacteria BBS and Ghana has got that bacteria here in the country and it is destroying the mangoes. When I arrived here 22 years ago, there was one farm that could export mangoes but now there are over 3,000 and we are their customer.”
“We developed the mango industry and it is sad to see the demise of the mango plantations and the demise of agriculture. Now we have lost the pineapple so are we going to lose the mangoes also?”
Dr. Anthony also warned that the bacteria could also affect employment.
“What will happen if this is not resolved? A lot of jobs will be lost so those in politics, organisations, civil society and those in agriculture should help us sort out bacteria blackspot because it is killing the mangoes.”
