Problem

More than half of the world’s cocoa beans are produced in West Africa. Cultivation is mostly done in monocultures, which have a negative impact on the environment and are dependent on chemical fertilizers and pesticides. In addition, monoculture systems are vulnerable to climate change, and by producing only one product (cocoa), farmers suffer directly from fluctuations in the global market price of cocoa.

Solution

One possible solution is to grow cocoa in dynamic agroforestry systems (DAF). In DAF, suitable forest tree species are specifically selected and managed. The diversity of trees and other (useful) plants reduces dependence on external inputs, strengthens resilience to climate change, and improves soil fertility. It also improves farmers’ livelihoods by providing them with a wider range of products that they can use themselves or sell. This provides a higher and more stable income as well as better nutrition. At the same time, herbs, shrubs and medicinal trees can be used for health care, which brings great benefits, especially in rural areas where access to health care is limited and unreliable.

Context

However, cultivation in DAF requires a lot of labor and knowledge. In addition, educated Ghanaian youth lack interest in cocoa farming. A thorough understanding of local conditions such as the environment, society, and culture is necessary to promote the development of DAF. This research project will explore the benefits of DAF to the environment and the well-being of people in Ghana, and how to make DAF more attractive to local people.