Advantages of organic cocoa and/or coffee agroforestry

Organic cocoa or coffee production

Organic cocoa and/or coffee production is based on a sustainable socio-economic and environmental agroforestry system, where trees are grown in combination with taller shades and food/fertilizer trees. Cocoa/coffee trees are integrated into existing forest structure to retain multi-storey canopy and minimize environmental impacts. In case of no trees on site, other trees should be planted to provide shade and create the multi-storey agroforestry effect. 

Diverse tree species with cocoa/coffee as under-storey

These diversify trees species provide the following benefits

1.     Help to control pests;
2.     Provide shades for the cocoa/coffee tree;
3.     Enhance soil fertility;
4.     Improve cocoa/coffee yields;
5.      Provide food, folders and medicine;
6.      Retain habitats for birds, small animals, insects and other pollinators;
7.     Create environmental and micro climate buffering;
8.     Provide multiple revenue streams to alleviate poverty;
9.     Better nutrition from diverse food sources;
10.     Enhance community resilient to food security.

Incorporating crop successions is very important as it improves soil fertility, growth of cocoa/coffee tree, mitigate effects of climate change and provides continues food and farm income. Plants like banana, plantains, papaya, pineapples, avocado, citrus fruits, mangoes, cocoyam and yams can be incorporated into cocoa farms. This mixed cropping system improves farmers’ livelihoods by generating multiple income streams from different crops and enhancing nutrition.

Zero use of pesticide, herbicide and insecticide as they upset the ecosystem by killing pest predators, poisoning animals and humans as well as polluting the water systems and causing further damages to aquatic life. Only biological and traditional methods which are non-toxic, less costly and environmentally friendly should be used. Such as removing and burying cocoa pods affected by black pods diseases amongst other.

Zero use of fertilizer to preserve the soil biota, halt eutrophication of water bodies, reduce cost and farmers dependent on agro-chemical companies.  Improvement of soil health through increase in organic matters, compost, vermicomposting and planting of fertilizers trees is practiced to avert chemical risk. Here there is a switch from external inputs (chemical fertilizers) to internal inputs - compost & manure produced on the farm within its diversified agroforestry system.

Fruit trees and plantains incorporated into cocoa/coffee agroforestry

Increase in organic material through pruning and mulching from a stratified, diverse and densely planted agroforestry is sufficient for an economically viable production. All cocoa shells should be evenly spread out to rot and recycle soil nutrients. Palms can be incorporated into plantations to provide phosphorus; which is an essential nutrient to increase yield and plant health; and reduce heavy metal in cocoa/coffee beans content. Through symbiosis with mycorrhiza, palms are capable of breaking down phosphorous and also bind heavy metals in soils. Leguminous trees such as Albiza Zygia should also be planted to fix atmospheric nitrogen and make it available to plants around them, and also improves pH in acidic soil. It has a high potential for ameliorating degraded cocoa/coffee soils and reducing soil erosion. Nitrogen is essential in plant health and cocoa/coffee productivity.

Good practices and care such as tree pruning and Phyto-hygiene should be carried out to control pests and diseases. The use of chemical is avoided as organic production rely on alternative solution to soil fertility, pest management and quality assurance that are not detrimental to humans and the environment.

Advantages of organic cocoa and/or coffee production

·         Reduce production cost – The cost of production is greatly reduced as the use of expensive external inputs such as pesticides, insecticides, herbicides and fertilizers are eliminated. Local seeds are used instead of expensive hybrid seeds. Compost and manure are used rather than expensive fertilizers. Thereby, making farmer’s less dependent on expensive inputs from agro-chemical companies and input cost.

·         Increase income – Organic cocoa beans are more expensive than conventional cocoa at the international market. The increase price of organic coca beans and low input cost results to higher farm income.

Dr. Nvenakeng Suzanne at Suzy-farms, Buea, Cameroon

        Environmental and health benefit – There is reduction of environmental and health risks as pollution is avoided and there is increase in biodiversity within a multi-storey agroforestry system. The health of farmers is also protected by avoiding hazardous chemicals such as pesticide, herbicides and insecticides.

       Increase in farmer’s sovereignty - Intercropping other food crops and fruit trees in cocoa and/or coffee agroforestry provides farmers with additional food and income. Farmers becomes independents with multiple sources of food to improve nutrition and income streams to alleviate poverty.

      We shall be uploading videos soon on our youtube channel. Subscribe to our channel, like, comment and hit on the notification button to keep up with update. Like our facebook page and follow us on instagram and twitter