Improving the productivity and income of Ghanaian cocoa farmers while maintaining environmental services: what role for certification?

Cacao agroforestry systems have higher return on labor compared to full-sun monocultures

“…On average, the monocultures were 41% more productive than the agroforestry systems, which is in line with previous studies in Central America and West Africa (Gockowski et al 2013;Ramirez et al 2001). This is mainly attributed to the higher light incidence and vigor of the trees under full-sun monocultures compared with agroforestry systems (Koko et al 2013).…”

“…The global demand for cacao has been increasing (Vaast and Somarriba 2014), and this trend has led to a change in cacao production systems; traditional cultivation under shade has been replaced with full-sun monocultures with higher input levels (Franzen and Borgerhoff Mulder 2007). Monocultures generally have higher cacao yields compared to shaded systems (Gockowski et al 2013;Ramirez et al 2001;Ratnadass et al 2012) and may improve farmers' incomes in the short-term (Franzen and Borgerhoff Mulder 2007;Siebert 2002). Moreover, expansion of the cultivated area has also occurred to the detriment of forest regions (Vieira et al 2008).…”

Trade-offs between crop intensification and ecosystem services: the role of agroforestry in cocoa cultivation

“…Key pests and diseases include mirids (Sahlbergella singularis and Distantiella theobroma) and the cocoa pod borer (Conopomorpha cramerella) in Indonesia, black pod (Phytophthora palmivora and P. magakarya) in West and Central Africa, monilia (Moniliophthora roreri) and witches' broom (Moniliophthora perniciosa) in America. Soil fertility decline, especially in the absence of organic matter and fertilizer addition over the 20-30 years following forest clearing, has been highlighted as one of the major causes of declining cocoa yield (Gockowski et al 2013;Tscharntke et al 2011).…”

“…About 20 % of world cocoa produced today is eco-certified (ICCO 2014b), including 13 % by Rainforest Alliance that has certified more than 927,000 ha, mostly in Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana and Indonesia (SAN 2014). Several studies have been published recently to determine the conditions that make certification a financially viable option to retain biodiversity while at the same time achieving high cocoa yield (Gockowski et al 2010(Gockowski et al , 2013Tscharntke et al 2014). In a recent study, KPMG (2012) found that the net benefit of cocoa certification in Côte d'Ivoire was on average US$114 per ton produced between years 1-6 (based on a mean local premium paid for the main three certification schemes, namely Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance and UTZ Certified).…”

“…These authors suggest that the net benefit would drop down to US$ 84 (Côte d'Ivoire) and US$ 38 (Ghana) per ton produced without any productivity increase. Recently, Gockowski et al (2013) calculated that in Ghana with a premium of 72 GH¢ per ton (around US$ 40 per ton at the 2013 exchange rate), the profitability of Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa agroforestry systems was less profitable than an intensive monoculture (assumed to produce 20 % more than a well managed cocoa agroforest). In this special issue, Asare et al (2014) calculate that the on-farm economic benefits of cocoa agroforestry systems in Ghana (including sales of cocoa and timber after 20 years) are not sufficiently attractive to farmers and that a premium of US$200 per ton for Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa beans, was not substantial enough to compensate for the loss of cocoa productivity in comparison to full sun, intensive cocoa cultivation (again assuming 20 % higher productivity).…”