The Cocoa-eco programme in West Africa

For over a century, cocoa has been the major driver of land use change in the tropical forests of West
Africa. The evolution of the full-sun cocoa systems, which are now widely adopted, has resulted in the
removal of shade trees - which are an integral part of traditional cocoa farms - and accelerated the pace
of deforestation. As the largest cocoa producer region in the world, the majority of smallholder farmers
are dependent on cocoa for part, or all of their livelihoods; while for governments cocoa exports account
for a substantial in-ow of foreign exchange. The increase in cocoa production has largely been due
to expansion of the land area under cultivation mostly forest land, rather than improved productivity.
Research ndings within the sector suggest that on-farm productivity is low and that 40% of farmers fail to
make a net prot. Additionally, much of the cocoa is grown with low shade cover - a management regime
that harbours less biodiversity and carbon, and is more vulnerable to changes in climate.
SNVs Cocoa-eco programme intends to introduce an approach that combines supporting local cocoa
livelihoods and improving cocoa farm resilience to climate change for poverty alleviation and enhanced
ecosystem conservation. The programme is being implemented in West Africa, initially in Ghana and
Cameroon.
Climate Smart Cocoa production
The Cocoa-Eco programme focuses on the modernization of cocoa production and professionalization
of cocoa farmers through climate-smart intensication, diversication and conversion of cocoa farms.
Demonstration farms will showcase better management practices, efcient and sustainable application
of agro-chemicals, intercropping, achieving 40% shading with other crops and trees and a progressive
rejuvenation of ageing farms at selected Business Development Centers and strategic plantations. Organic
cocoa farming methods will also be assessed and piloted to better understand the economic viability of its
introduction to the area.
SNV is working in partnership with the Kuapa Kokoo Farmers Union - a union of over 85,000 members
and a licensed cocoa buying company initially piloting the project with 6,000 farmers around Kumasi in
the Asante Region. SNV works through ten Business Development Centers of Kuapa Kokoo to introduce
this new business model to farmers to help lift them out of poverty. The Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana
is an important partner along with Kuapa Kokoo who provide all farmer trainings. To support research on
the modernisation of cocoa production the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture provides additional
expertise.
Adopting a landscape approach
It is recognised that any improvements on a cocoa farm can be neutralised by other harmful activities
outside the area, so SNV is adopting a landscape approach. Landscape siting tools are being developed
to identify suitable areas for sustainable cocoa expansion, as well as hotspots for possible cocoa driven
deforestation in the High Forest Zone of Ghana. The intention is to work closely with farmers and
communities in these areas, exploring mechanisms that support the needs of these groups, with forest
protection in the wider landscape. The project will work closely with the National REDD+ Secretariat and
COCOBOD to build lessons for the desired-state of cocoa in Ghana and disseminate results in order to
provide a model to support cocoa REDD+ development in Ghana, which could be adopted nationally to
help in reducing emissions while increasing incomes. SNV is also developing approaches to ensure no
deforestation in supply chains and aims to work with companies to pilot these.
As a possible nance source in addition to the Fair Trade premiums that Kuapa Kokoo already receives,
the potential to access carbon markets using cocoa as the basis for developing REDD+ strategies is being
explored. This includes exploring the potential from voluntary carbon markets and integrating carbon with
certication schemes.
Outlook
The Cocoa-Eco programme will capture and disseminate its experiences to wider audiences of farmer
organizations, the private sector and with other cocoa producing countries, in order to support a low
emission, protable and sustainable cocoa sector. The project aims to expand to Cameroon and Congo in
2014.
Contact
Winston Asante
Associate Advisor on REDD+ and Agroforestry
wasante@snvworld.org