Cocoa agroforests in West Africa: a look at activities on preferred trees in the farming systems

This study was initiated by Forest & Landscape Denmark and the World Cocoa Foundation with the objectives of (i) providing an information base to coordinate activities on trees in cocoa growing systems and (ii) creating a network of researchers and institutions working on trees in cocoa in the sub region. The aim of this report therefore is to provide an overview of organisations and institutions working on cocoa and tree research and their respective activities in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, and Nigeria. In order to achieve this, a study tour was conducted between April 26 and October 6, 2004 in the countries where interviews were held with NGO staff, key informants, and research scientists from research institutions. In addition, informal discussions were held with individual cocoa farmers and farmer co-operatives, as well as field visits and observations on farms. The majority of this work is conducted as on-station research with a few isolated cases of on-farm research. Farmer preferred and research recommended species in cocoa growing systems in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, and Nigeria have been given in this report. However, these results should be used cautiously, as there is probable overlap between research sources and likely recycling of farmer-based information between different groups. Therefore, while this information provides a good starting point, it does highlight the need for a systematic, multi-regional survey to determine farmers’ selection criteria of preferred species, which can be coupled with rigorous research on the autoecology and compatibility of valuable trees with cocoa.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Asare, R. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Asare, R. autor/a, 17183 Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Horsholm (Dinamarca)
Format: biblioteca
Language:eng
Published: Horsholm (Dinamarca): Forest & Landscape Denmark, 2005
Subjects:THEOBROMA CACAO, AGROFORESTERIA, CONSERVACION DE LOS RECURSOS, ARBOLES DE PROPOSITO MULTIPLE, SISTEMAS DE EXPLOTACION, EXPLOTACION EN PEQUENA ESCALA, SOSTENIBILIDAD, PLANTAS DE SOMBRA, INSTITUCIONES DE INVESTIGACION, DIVERSIFICACION, AFRICA OCCIDENTAL,
Online Access:https://forskning.ku.dk/soeg/result/?pure=files%2F20497370%2Fworkingpapersno6.pdf
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Summary:This study was initiated by Forest & Landscape Denmark and the World Cocoa Foundation with the objectives of (i) providing an information base to coordinate activities on trees in cocoa growing systems and (ii) creating a network of researchers and institutions working on trees in cocoa in the sub region. The aim of this report therefore is to provide an overview of organisations and institutions working on cocoa and tree research and their respective activities in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, and Nigeria. In order to achieve this, a study tour was conducted between April 26 and October 6, 2004 in the countries where interviews were held with NGO staff, key informants, and research scientists from research institutions. In addition, informal discussions were held with individual cocoa farmers and farmer co-operatives, as well as field visits and observations on farms. The majority of this work is conducted as on-station research with a few isolated cases of on-farm research. Farmer preferred and research recommended species in cocoa growing systems in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, and Nigeria have been given in this report. However, these results should be used cautiously, as there is probable overlap between research sources and likely recycling of farmer-based information between different groups. Therefore, while this information provides a good starting point, it does highlight the need for a systematic, multi-regional survey to determine farmers’ selection criteria of preferred species, which can be coupled with rigorous research on the autoecology and compatibility of valuable trees with cocoa.