On-farm cocoa yields increase with canopy cover of shade trees in two agro-ecological zones in Ghana

TY - JOUR

T1 - On-farm cocoa yields increase with canopy cover of shade trees in two agro-ecological zones in Ghana

AU - Asare, Richard

AU - Markussen, Bo

AU - Asare, Rebecca Ashley

AU - Anim-Kwapong, Gilbert

AU - Ræbild, Anders

PY - 2019/5/28

Y1 - 2019/5/28

N2 - Despite Ghana’s large contribution to global cocoa production, average yields are low. Policymakers and practitioners are calling for implementation of a climate smart strategy by increasing yields and augmenting shade tree cover in cocoa systems. However, there have been few studies in West Africa on the relationship between shade and cocoa yield under field conditions. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of shade tree cover and other factors on on-farm cocoa yields over a four-year period. The study was conducted on 86 farm plots of 8–28 years’ cocoa trees with varied canopy cover (CC) in Ashanti and Western regions of Ghana. A linear mixed model analysis showed that yields increased significantly with increased CC of shade trees, and indicated a doubling of yields when going from zero to approximately 30% crown cover. Fertilizer use gave a yield increase of 7%. Farms located in Western region had higher yields compared to Ashanti, and cocoa systems on short fallows had lower yields than farms cultivated on recent forest clearings and old fallows. Fungicide use, seed sources and land ownership had no significant effects on yield. We conclude that for a sustainable climate-smart cocoa agenda, promotion of shade trees is key.

AB - Despite Ghana’s large contribution to global cocoa production, average yields are low. Policymakers and practitioners are calling for implementation of a climate smart strategy by increasing yields and augmenting shade tree cover in cocoa systems. However, there have been few studies in West Africa on the relationship between shade and cocoa yield under field conditions. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of shade tree cover and other factors on on-farm cocoa yields over a four-year period. The study was conducted on 86 farm plots of 8–28 years’ cocoa trees with varied canopy cover (CC) in Ashanti and Western regions of Ghana. A linear mixed model analysis showed that yields increased significantly with increased CC of shade trees, and indicated a doubling of yields when going from zero to approximately 30% crown cover. Fertilizer use gave a yield increase of 7%. Farms located in Western region had higher yields compared to Ashanti, and cocoa systems on short fallows had lower yields than farms cultivated on recent forest clearings and old fallows. Fungicide use, seed sources and land ownership had no significant effects on yield. We conclude that for a sustainable climate-smart cocoa agenda, promotion of shade trees is key.

KW - canopy cover

KW - climate smart cocoa

KW - fertilizer

KW - REDD+

KW - yield

U2 - 10.1080/17565529.2018.1442805

DO - 10.1080/17565529.2018.1442805

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85045055700

SN - 1756-5529

VL - 11

SP - 435

EP - 445

JO - Climate and Development

JF - Climate and Development

IS - 5

ER -