Typology of cocoa-based agroforestry systems

This study was carried out with the aim of identifying good agricultural practices in the cocoa sector in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana. To achieve this inventories were carried out on 52 cocoa plantations belonging to 49 cocoa farmers from 5 different localities in the Bonon observatory site in west-central Côte d'Ivoire which is the second cocoa loop. These inventories were carried out using the surface survey method using 625 m² plots. A total of 41 species were recorded divided into 34 genera and 24 families. Statistical analysis of floristic and structural characteristics enabled us to identify three groups of cocoa-based agroforestry systems in our study area. These are: cocoa-based agroforestry systems characterized by a high density of cocoa trees in production or full-sun systems; complex cocoa-based agroforestry systems with a dense canopy and a high density of associated forest plant species; and cocoa-based agroforestry systems with an open canopy and a high density of associated perennial crops (cashew and coffee).