AsaaseYaaPests and diseases
What is wrong with my crop?
49 pests, diseases and problems that hit Ghana’s crops: what they look like, when they come, and what to do. The same advice the app gives at each stage.
By crop
Maize
Cassava
Tomato
Pepper
Rice
Soybean
Yam
Plantain
OkraInsects, mites and worms
Fall armywormA caterpillar that hides in the centre of young maize and eats the leaves and growing point.Maize
Stem borersCaterpillars that bore inside the stem, so the centre leaf dies while the rest stays green.MaizeRice
CutwormA fat grey caterpillar that hides in the soil by day and cuts young seedlings off at the base at night.MaizeTomatoPepperSoybean
TermitesSmall pale insects that eat roots, stems and planting material from below the soil.MaizeCassavaSoybean
AphidsTiny soft green or black insects that gather under leaves and suck the sap.MaizeTomatoPepperSoybeanOkra
WhitefliesTiny white flying insects under the leaves. They suck sap and spread virus diseases.CassavaTomatoPepperOkra
ThripsVery small, thin insects in flowers and young leaves. They scar the plant and can spread viruses.TomatoPepperSoybean
Banana rust thripsThrips that feed on young plantain fingers and leave rusty brown scars on the skin.Plantain
Spider mitesTiny mites under the leaves, sometimes with fine webbing. Leaves get pale speckles and dry out.TomatoPepperSoybeanYam
Cassava green miteA tiny mite on the young leaves at the top of cassava. Leaves turn pale and small.Cassava
Cassava mealybugWhite, waxy insects on the shoot tips of cassava. The top of the plant bunches up.Cassava
Leaf minersSmall larvae that tunnel inside the leaf and leave wavy pale lines.Tomato
GrasshoppersJumping insects that chew large pieces out of leaves.CassavaSoybean
Flea beetlesSmall shiny beetles that jump when touched and chew many tiny holes in okra leaves.Okra
LeafhoppersSmall wedge-shaped insects that hop sideways and suck sap. Some spread virus.Soybean
Tomato fruit borerA caterpillar that bores into tomato fruits and leaves a round hole.Tomato
Pepper fruit flyA fly that lays eggs in pepper fruits. The maggots make the fruit rot and drop.Pepper
Ear and silk pestsInsects that feed on maize silks and young ears, so the cob fills badly.Maize
Grain weevilSmall dark beetles that eat stored maize grain and leave it full of holes and powder.Maize
Rice gall midgeA small fly whose larva turns the rice shoot into a hollow tube that gives no grain.Rice
Brown planthopperSmall brown insects at the base of rice plants. Heavy attacks dry patches of the field.Rice
Rice bugsLong-legged bugs that suck the milk out of young rice grains, leaving them empty.Rice
Bean flyA small fly whose maggot tunnels in the stem of young soybean, so seedlings wilt and die.Soybean
Pod borerA caterpillar that eats soybean flowers and bores into the pods.Soybean
Pod-sucking bugsBugs that suck the seeds inside soybean pods, leaving them shrivelled.Soybean
Yam beetlesBlack beetles that eat holes into yam tubers in the soil.Yam
Scale insectsSmall flat insects stuck to stems and tubers like scales. They suck sap.Yam
Banana weevilA black weevil whose grubs tunnel in the base of plantain, so plants weaken and fall.Plantain
NematodesTiny worms in the soil that damage roots and tubers. Plants grow weak and fall over.YamPlantain
Diseases
Cassava mosaic diseaseA virus spread by whiteflies and infected stems. Leaves get yellow-green patches and twist.Cassava
Cassava bacterial blightA disease that makes wet-looking spots on leaves, then wilting and dieback of shoots.Cassava
AnthracnoseA fungus that makes dark sunken spots on fruits and leaves, and dieback on yam.TomatoPepperYam
Damping-offA soil fungus that makes young seedlings rot at the base and fall over.TomatoPepperOkra
Root rotA fungus in wet soil that rots roots and tubers.CassavaYam
Rice blastA fungus that makes eye-shaped spots on rice leaves and can break the neck of the panicle.Rice
Black sigatokaA leaf spot disease of plantain. Streaks turn into black patches and the leaves die early.Plantain
Yam mosaic virusA virus that gives yam leaves a light and dark green pattern and makes them small.Yam
Maize ear rotMould on maize cobs, often after rain at harvest. Mouldy grain is unsafe to eat.Maize
Crown rotRot that starts where plantain hands were cut, after harvest.Plantain
Maize streak virusA virus spread by leafhoppers. Leaves get thin yellow streaks along the veins.Maize
Maize rustA fungus that covers maize leaves with small rust-coloured powdery spots.Maize
SmutA fungus that turns maize ears or tassels into swollen black masses.Maize
Okra leaf curl virusA virus spread by whiteflies. Okra leaves curl, thicken and the plant stays small.Okra
Powdery mildewA fungus that covers leaves with white powder.Okra
Pepper veinal mottle virusA virus that gives pepper leaves a dark green pattern along the veins and deforms the fruit.Pepper
Animals and birds
Weather and feeding problems
Blossom end rot
Not sure what it is?In the app, tap the leaf picture that looks like yours. It tells you what it probably is and what to do, step by step. Or post a photo in Farmers and ask.
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