Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG)

Research Activities

CRIG carries out research into problems relating to the production of cocoa, coffee, kola, sheanut and other indigenous oil tree crops which produce fats similar to cocoa butter. It also provides information and advice on all matters relating to the production of the crops. Research is conducted in seven scientific divisions, these are: Agronomy/ Soil Science, Plant Breeding, Entomology, Plant Pathology, Physiology/ Biochemistry, Social Science and Statistics and New Products Development. Research is organised on a multi-disciplinary (Thrust) basis.

Scientific Milestones: Discoveries & Innovations
The following are among the most notable achievements of the Institute since its inception:

• Characterization of the Cocoa Swollen Shoot disease as a virus disease and the discovery of mealy bugs as vectors of the disease. (Early 1940's)
• Control of capsics by mass spraying with insecticides. (Early 1950’s)
• Understanding of cocoa fermentation and flavour chemistry.(Late 1950’s)
• Understanding of the relationship between cocoa shade, nutrition and yield leading to agronomic packages giving yields of over 3 tons ha. (1959-63)
• Development of early bearing and high yielding WACRI Series II hybrids by crosses between the Amelonado cocoa and the Amazon cocoa. (1964)
• Mass hand pollination of clonal seed gardens for large scale production of seed pods. (Early 1970s)
• Isolation and characterization of CSSV disease and development of diagnostic methods. (1980’s and 1990’s)
• Development of pectin, alcoholic drinks, animal feed and jelly as by-products from cocoa wastes; anti development of cosmetics and soaps from cocoa butter, shea butter and related fats. (1980’s and 1990’s)
• Overcoming the problem of cross and self-incompatibility by the selection and multiplication of types which re-cross and/or are self-compatible, thus guaranteeing high yields in kola.