Recent studies in the Nawa region of Côte d’Ivoire have indicated an acute malnutrition rate of 11.3% among cocoa producers. One of recommended actions from the studies was to diversify agriculture with nutrients rich crops. Introduction of soybean (Glycine max) cropping system could go a long way to ensure food and nutritional security in the region. The current study was conducted in two sites (Logboayo and Soubré) inthe south-west of Côte d’Ivoire, to evaluatetheeffect of IRAT-FA3 Bradyrhizobium japonicum strain inoculumon the agronomic performance of five varieties of soybean named Doko, Canarana, V3_2013,V6_2013 andIT_235. The experimental design was randomized complete block with a split plot withinoculation as the main factor and variety of soybean as subplot treatment replicated three times.Data were collected on some yield parameters and the grain yield. Results of yield showed a highly significant effect (P<0.0001) of the site and a significant effect (P=0.0316) of the variety x treatment interaction. Highest yield was recorded at Logboayo with 1838 kg ha-1 compared to 1220 kg ha-1 for Soubré. The variety V6_2013 with a yield of 1931 kg ha-1and good vegetative development could be recommended as elite variety for the farmers in the Nawa region.
Tag: cocoa
Defining and promoting agroforestry cocoa for Cameroon and Central Africa
In recent years, the cocoa sector has undergone significant change worldwide, with pressure to produce sustainable and deforestation-free cocoa. Several international initiatives have been launched or supported to achieve this goal. One is the African Regional Standard (ARS) 1000, enacted in 2021 to set the requirements for sustainable cocoa. It subsequently received ISO approval (34101 series). This general standard is currently broken down into national standards in the countries concerned.
CACAOmustahan. Volume 03, Issue 02. April-June 2024
Cacao Industry Council created the Philippine Cacao Industry Roadmap, a strategic guide for industry stakeholders to achieve an environment-friendly, socially desirable, and economically viable cacao industry from 2021 to 2025. It commits to standardizing cacao production and post-harvest protocols across the nation and mobilize stakeholders to support industry-wide development efforts.
ShadeMotion: tree shade patterns in coffee and cocoa agroforestry systems
Shade trees in coffee and cocoa agroforestry systems provide valuable livelihoods and other ecosystem services. Unfortunately, most shade canopies are sub-optimally designed and managed and the reasons behind this sub-optimality are poorly known. There is evidence, however, indicating that farmers and extension agents lack both the knowledge and access to user-friendly tools to optimally design their shade canopies. To fill this gap, we developed ShadeMotion, a simple to parameterize, yet powerful software, capable of calculating the spatial and temporal distribution of the shade cast by trees on a plot (horizontal or tilted) anywhere on Earth. Trees may be planted in any spatial arrangement, their population density can change according to planting, thinning, mortality or harvest, tree crowns may take any of eight possible, regular, geometric shapes, vary in density and monthly leaf fall patterns, and may be pollarded or not. Shade patterns may be calculated for one instant, 1 year or less, or for the entire life cycle of a plantation; in the latter case, tree growth data must be added as input. Shade can be measured at ground level or at any height above the ground. In this article, we: (1) describe the key features of the software, and (2) simulate the spatial and temporal shade patterns of a traditional agroforestry system of Coffea arabica cv. Caturra, Erythrina poeppigiana and Cordia alliodora in Costa Rica. ShadeMotion can realistically model farm scenarios and may be used in the participatory design of agroforestry systems in farmers field schools and in classrooms.
CACAOmustahan. Volume 01, Issue 02. April-October 2022
The Davao Region is the ‘cacao capital’ of the Philippines as it produces majority of the country’s cacao yield. However, there are still areas in the region that are not maximized; one of which is the province of Davao de Oro (formerly Compostela Valley). This is despite the resources being devoted by the national and local government, as well as international funding institutions, in strengthening the cacao industry in the province, as well as the continuous expansion of areas planted with cacao; some of which used to be forests.
Analysis of Tieghemella heckelii x Theobroma cacao L. Interaction in Traditional Agroforestry Systems in Western Cote d’Ivoire
Agromorphological and productivity parameters and incomes of cocoa companion trees assessment was studied to identify the ecological interaction between Tieghemella heckelii (makoré) and cocoa (Theobroma cacao) trees in Cote d’Ivoire. To this end studies have been carried out in rural areas in the locations of Duekoué and Taï. This work was conducted on the cocoa trees around the makoré trees over three distances around the tree (10, 20, and 30 m). Several parameters related to morphology, productivity, biomass, and CO2 stock were determined, for the two speculations. Results indicated that the trees of makoré used have the same characteristics (size, DBH, biomass, and CO2 stock). However, a difference in the shape of the fruit and/or the seed (weight of the fruit, length, and width of the seeds) and the number of seeds contained in the fruits was observed, thus reflecting a variability of individuals. Moreover, the density and yield of cocoa trees increased with distance. Indeed, cocoa trees located 30 m from the makoré trees recorded the highest rates of healthy pods. The rate of rotten and gnawed pods was similar for all distances considered, and cocoa trees located 20 m from the makoré trees were the most vigorous. Additionally, the biomass and the CO2 stock were high for large diameter and tall cocoa trees, especially the cocoa trees located 20 and 30 m from the makoré trees.
Impact of Swollen Shoot Disease on the Livelihoods of Smallholder Cocoa farmers in Côte d’Ivoire
The Cocoa Swollen Shoot Disease (CSSD) due to badnavirus species is endemic in West Africa and caused significant and irreversible economy losses for smallholder cocoa farmers in infected areas in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. The impact of the disease on the small farmers livelihoods has been investigated at cocoa farm households level in Côte d‘Ivoire. For that, the propensity score matching method was used to construct a counterfactual and to compair group capturing the situation of affected households before the disease occuring on their plantation, based on the observable characteristics of non affected households. A total of 800 cocoa farmers were randomly interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Results shown significant differences of expenditures for children’s schooling and health of household’s with plantations infected by the disease compared to non affected. It was also found that households with swollen shoot in their cocoa plantation use less modern health services and invest less in children’s education.
Analysis of the Ricinodendron heudelotii × Theobroma cacao L. Interaction in Traditional Agroforestry Systems in Côte d’Ivoire
The objective of this study was to improve cacao (Theobroma cacao) production through its association with a woody species, such as Ricinodendron heudelotii, in western Côte d’Ivoire. To do this, a design of two transects (10 m and 20 m) was installed around the species in 5 localities (Buyo, Duekoué, Guéyo, San-Pedro, and Soubré). The diameter at the breast height of the tree, the height, the number of fruits, the above biomass, and its carbon stock were measured. Results showed morphological variability of R. heudelotii according to the localities. The presence of the species within cacao trees reduces the rate of pod rot, stabilizes the rate of pods eaten away, and increases the biomass production and the carbon storage of cacao trees. The distance between the two species had no impact on the vigor and the yield of cacao trees. However, cacao density in the 10 m line was reduced compared to that of the 20 m. Therefore, the integration of R. heudelotii into cacao agroforestry systems could improve cacao production. That is why the reduction of cacao density, as well as the use of more suitable varieties of cacao, should be considered for the sustainability of this system.
CACAOmustahan. Volume 01, Issue 03. Special year-end issue
As part of its deliverables, the Sustainable Farming in Tropical Asian Landscapes (SFITAL) team in the Philippines looked at the profitability of various land-uses found in Davao de Oro. Based on the remotely sensed and groundtruthed land-use maps of Davao de Oro, the analysis looked at several land uses in the Province, namely cacao monocrop, cacao-based agroforestry, timber-based agroforestry, rice monoculture, corn monoculture, coconut-based agroforestry, coconut monocrop, African oil palm plantation, rubber-based agroforestry, and banana monocrop, among others.
A method to better identify the socio-economic determinants of transformations in agroforestry systems
This article presents a method for identifying the socio-economic determinants of transformations in agroforestry systems (AFS). It is based on the analysis of diachronic data collected on three levels: country, region and farm. It offers a new method of spatio-temporal triangulation, making it possible to identify and classify the main socio-economic determinants of these transformations. It proposes an evaluation grid based on seven categories of socio-economic determinants. These inputs are then used to produce models, which explain the logic of the transformations in AFS and the socio-economic determinants involved. Examples of Cameroonian cocoa-based agroforestry systems serve to illustrate the main steps and modalities for using this method and the results it can provide.