Cocoa and Climate Change: Insights from Smallholder Cocoa Producers in Ghana Regarding Challenges in Implementing Climate Change Mitigation Strategies

Lord Ameyaw,Gilbert Anim-Kwapong,Gregory Ettl,Kristy Leissle

doi:10.3390/f9120742

Lord Ameyaw, Gilbert Anim-Kwapong + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/f9120742

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Abstract

This study investigates the knowledge and perception of smallholder cocoa farmers on the potential impacts of climate change on cocoa production in Ghana. It addresses opinions on the inclusion of climate change mitigation strategies (such as Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation—REDD+) into cocoa production, and potential obstacles and roles of stakeholders in ensuring community acceptance of such strategies in a unique multiple land use area—the Krokosua Hills Forest Reserve. Data from the Ghana Meteorological Agency and through survey of 205 cocoa farmers were assessed with Mann-Kendall, Kruskal Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests. Farmers’ perceptions of changes in climate were notably diverse and did not always match historic weather data, but accurately described increases in temperature and drought which are linked to cocoa productivity. Farmers appreciate the importance of tree maintenance for ecosystem services but were skeptical of financially rewarding climate change strategies which favor tree protection. Cultural practices associated with cocoa production encourage carbon release and may pose a threat to the objectives of REDD+. Farmers’ experience on the land, interactions with other farmers, government extension agents and cocoa buyers all influence cocoa agroforestry practices in the area, and communication through existing entities (particularly extension agents) presents a pathway to community acceptance of climate change mitigation strategies. The study recommends reforms in REDD+ strategies to adopt flexible and participatory frameworks to facilitate adoption and acceptability due to pronounced heterogeneity in community perceptions and knowledge of climate change and related issues.

Highlights

Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) cultivated under the shade of forest trees, in combination with annual food crops on the same piece of land, is common for smallholder farmers across the cocoa-forest mosaic of tropical Ghana
This paper investigates the perceptions of smallholder cocoa farmers on the inclusion of climate change mitigation strategies and payment for ecosystem services into land/farm management objectives
The novelty of climate change mitigation strategies has been heralded by the international scientific community as a gateway to the implementation of desirable forest governance mechanisms with significant potential to influence the livelihoods of developing economies

Summary

Introduction

Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) cultivated under the shade of forest trees, in combination with annual food crops (i.e., cocoa agroforestry) on the same piece of land, is common for smallholder farmers across the cocoa-forest mosaic of tropical Ghana. It is estimated that 800,000 smallholder cocoa farmers in Ghana derive between 70%–100% of their yearly income solely from cocoa production [2]. Benefits from cocoa agroforestry are multifaceted and include. Forests 2018, 9, 742 greater biodiversity than monocultures; societal and economic benefits of continuous food supply (food crops/staples); annual income from cocoa; and long-term financial reserves in timber. Cocoa generally requires high temperatures, precipitation and humidity to achieve optimum productivity, and cultivation is restricted to the “cocoa belt” (20◦ N and 20◦ S of the Equator)

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