Worldwide, cocoa is predominantly cultivated in monoculture systems. These systems are suboptimal due to their susceptibility to pests and diseases, reliance on external inputs, and negative environmental impacts, such as deforestation and soil degradation. Dynamic agroforestry (DAF) systems offer a compelling alternative. These systems integrate diverse trees, shrubs, and crops alongside cocoa plants, mimicking natural forest environments. This approach significantly enhances biodiversity, improves soil fertility, fosters ecological resilience, and provides diversified income streams for farmers. Thus, it is a crucial strategy for sustainable cocoa production and climate change mitigation.
Although DAF has been promoted as a means of enhancing sustainable cocoa production, its adoption among smallholder farmers remains largely localized and dependent on external funding. This indicates a critical need for a more thorough assessment. This study aims to address this issue by evaluating the performance and adoption dynamics of DAF, with a specific focus on its socioeconomic viability. Focusing on two case studies from Ecuador and Ghana, the project aims to:
Overall, the project aims to generate essential evidence to inform future investment, policy, and programming decisions in various cocoa-producing regions, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable and resilient cocoa sector. This collaborative project is funded by the Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa (SWISSCO) and Coop Switzerland, and is implemented by different FiBL experts specializing in this topic.
Project manager
