M th h l t Di if i More than chocolate: Diversifying cocoa agroforests

More than chocolate: Diversifying cocoa M
th
h l t Di
if i
agroforests for higher profitability in Cameroon
Lea Yvonne Eboutou¹, Ann Degrande¹, Achille Jaza Folefack² & F. Kamajou²
¹ World Agroforestry Centre, West and Central Africa‐Humid Tropics
²Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon Different systems compared
Eight scenarios: different theoretical combinations of cocoa and “domesticated” tree species, following recommended densities (Table 1) in the different strata (Figure 1).
Introduction
One of the main tree‐based systems in the West and Central Africa region is the cocoa plantation (Theobroma cacao Linn.). However, cocoa prices on the world market have been fluctuating significantly and farmers have been actively searching to diversify this system for more sustained income generation (Jagoret et al.
generation (Jagoret
et al. 2008; Sonwa
2008; Sonwa 2004; Hietet
2004; Hietet 2005; 2005;
Todem 2005). System
C
Species
T. cacao
D. edulis
I. gabonensis
R. heudelotii
T. cacao
D. edulis
I. gabonensis
R. heudelotii
T. cacao
D. edulis
I. gabonensis
R. heudelotii
T. cacao
D. edulis
I. gabonensis
R. heudelotii
C+S
C+M
In this light, the participatory tree domestication programme, implemented by the World Agroforestry Centre and partners, since 1996 aims at increasing farmers’ incomes and enhancing their resilience by cultivating indigenous trees and developing strategies for marketing the produce (Tchoundjeu et al. 1998). Over the years, farmers have used tree domestication skills to diversify their cocoa plantations with “domesticated” trees. However, the impact on their livelihoods has not yet been evaluated. C+N
Density
1111
0
0
0
1111
70
0
0
1111
0
70
0
111
0
0
16
System
C+S+M
Species
T. cacao
D. edulis
I. gabonensis
R. heudelotii
T. cacao
D. edulis
I. gabonensis
R. heudelotii
T. cacao
D. edulis
I. gabonensis
R. heudelotii
T. cacao
D. edulis
I. gabonensis
R. heudelotii
C+S+N
C+M+N
C+S+M+N
Conclusion
Figure 1: Different strata Figure
1 Different strata
used to determine densities Stratum 1 = cocoa (3m x 3m); Stratum 2 = safou +mango (12m x 12m); Stratum 3 = njansang (17m x 17m)
Source: Mbile et al. (2007)
Objectives
Global Objective: to evaluate the financial profitability of cocoa agroforests
Results
Results showed that the traditional system was not profitable and that only the enriched systems had an acceptable NPV (Fig 2). However, the different systems did not have the same level of profitability. The system enriched with safou, ndo’o and njansang had the highest NPV. Methodology
Study site
The Cocoa Production Basin of Centre Cameroon, because it is an area where cocoa yields are declining, thus needing strategies to increase productivity. Figure 2: Net Present Value
Figure 2: Net Present Value
14000000
8000000
6000000
4000000
2000000
0
C
C+S
C+M
C+N
C+S+M
C+S+N
C+M+N C+S+M+N
System
Figure 3: Internal Rate of Return
60
IRR (%)
40
30
20
10
0
C
C+S
C+M
C+N
C+S+M
C+S+N
C+M+N C+S+M+N
System
The optimal use of resources in this agroforest showed that in this agroforest
showed that
713 seedlings of cocoa, 35 safou, 42 mango and 10 njansang trees are sufficient to obtain a maximum profit of 3,082,171 FCFA (6850 USD).
It is therefore recommended that producers diversify their cocoa farms. However, there is a need to test these results on‐farm and do similar studies with other species to determine their profitability as well. Hereto, a trial on cocoa‐
based agroforest where cocoa is associated with domesticated local trees has been established in Ngali II, a village near Yaoundé.
References
10000000
‐2000000
50
Cocoa‐based agroforests are only profitable p
when other tree species are associated. The cocoa+safou+mango+njansang system is the most interesting combination and allows an efficient use of resources according to the GAMS analysis. 12000000
NPV (FCFA)
Specific Objectives: • to estimate the profitability of traditional and enriched cocoa‐based systems • to determine the optimal mix of trees that allows maximum profitability in the most diversified cocoa‐based agroforest
• to simulate the profitability of the most enriched agroforest
in terms of number and types of domesticated trees integrated Data collection tools
D
ll i
l
•Interview with resource persons to determine yields, prices, etc.
•Ex‐ante profitability analysis using enterprise budget; cost/benefit analysis; Net Present Value (NPV); Internal Rate of Return (IRR)
•Optimisation and Sensitivity Analysis using GAMS 21.3
Farmer planting a cutting of Dacryodes
edulis in his cocoa farm
Table 1: Overview of 8 scenarios compared
Therefore, a study to determine the financial profitability of cocoa agroforests enriched with domesticated trees was carried out in 2009. “Domesticated” tree species
Selection criteria: •presence in the area
•market potential
•farmers’ preference
Species: •Dacryodes edulis (G. Don) H.J. Lam. (safou)
•Ricinodendron heudelotii (Baill.) Pierre et Pax. (njansang)
•Irvingia gabonensis Baillon. (bush mango)
Density
1111
35
35
0
1111
70
0
16
1111
0
70
16
1111
35
35
16
The calculation of the Internal Rate of Return showed that, apart from cocoa only, all systems had IRR values close to 49%, so were profitable (Fig 3). Nevertheless, the use of the payback period propelled the "C+S+M+N" in the first position since capital invested in this agroforest
was recovered after five years. Hietet Goufan, G.D. 2005. Valeur socio‐économique des composantes d’une agroforêt a base de cacaoyers : cas des départements de la Lekie et de la Mefou Afamba dans le Centre et de la Mvila dans le Sud Cameroun. Mémoire de fin d’études. Faculté d’Agronomie et des Sciences Agricoles, Université de Dschang. 88p.
Jagoret, P., Todem Ngnogue, H., Bouambi, E., Battini, J‐L., Nyassé, S. 2008. «Diversification des exploitations agricoles à base de cacaoyer au Centre Cameroun : mythe ou réalité ?», Biotechnol. Agron. Soc. Environ. 13 (2) : 271‐280.
, ,
g, , g
,
g
Mbile, P., Tsobeng, A., Degrande, A. 2007. Intégration et gestion des arbres dans les champs. Manuel d’aide à la décision. ICRAF, Yaoundé, Cameroun. 22p
Sonwa, D.J., Tchatat, M., Adesina, A., Weise, S.F., Kongmeneck, A.B., Ndoye, O. et Endamana, D. 2002. Domestication dans les agroforêts cacao de la zone de forêt humide du Sud‐Cameroun: caractéristiques et préférence des cacaoculteurs pratiquant la sylviculture de Dacryodes
edulis. In: J. Kengue, C. Kapseu et G.J. Kayem, (eds.) Actes du 3ième Séminaire international sur la valorisation du safoutier et autres oléagineux non‐conventionnels. Yaoundé, Cameroun, 3‐5 octobre 2000. Presses Universitaires d’Afrique, Yaoundé. p 465‐482
Todem Ngnogue, H. 2005. Bilan financier des systèmes de cacaoculture du Centre‐Cameroun. Mémoire de fin d’études. Faculté d’Agronomie et des Sciences Agricoles, Université de Dschang, Cameroun. 88p. The authors would like to thank the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Rome for funding this study. Contact: [email protected]
ICRAF‐WCA/HT, P.O. Box 16317, Yaounde, Cameroon