Land suitability analysis for cocoa (Theobroma cacao) production in the Sunyani municipality, Bono region, Ghana

Abstract

To ensure sustainable food production systems it is crucial to adopt resilient agricultural practices that boost productivity and income. Therefore, this study integrated geospatial methodologies with GIS-based AHP algorithms to identify potential cocoa production areas in the Sunyani Municipality. Despite the fact that some review studies addressed land suitability, very few of them particularly examined land suitability analyses for cocoa production. Additionally, past studies did not take into account the hotspot areas for higher yield prediction on current and future land suitability. Weighted Linear Combination models (WLC) were used to evaluate and map land suitability for cocoa production in Sunyani Municipality, Ghana, and the Saaty's matrix cross-comparison method was utilized to determine the consistency ratio across criteria. The parameters used in the study to identify and analyze suitable areas for growing cocoa were slope, soil depth, land surface drainage, soil texture, LULC, rainfall, and temperature.The WLC and GIS-MCDA findings indicate that 7918.38 ha (23.3%) was highly suitable for cocoa production, 21,456.65 ha (63.3%) moderately suitable, 2676.33 ha (7.9%) marginally suitable and 1859.1 ha (5.5%) was not suitable for cocoa production. The findings indicate that the main constraints limiting high cocoa production and yield were poor land use management brought on by rapid population increase and forest degradation as well as rainfall variability. Higher cocoa yields can be achieved when farmers adjust their agronomic management to the requirements of the newly identified cocoa-growing areas. The hot spot analysis revealed that farms in Fahiakotwere, Mensakurom, Yawsaekurom, Peprakurom, Opaniapakurom and Abesim community have higher cocoa yields on the present and future land suitability.The results could be used as the baseline information for mapping land constraints for sustainable cocoa production and to strengthen capacity for agriculture adaptation and agricultural development. The study's findings have significance for attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations by using resilient agriculture techniques that boost agricultural productivity and income. Production of cocoa is more challenging in areas that are moderately and marginally appropriate due to varying rainfall patterns and harsh climatic conditions like high temperatures and drought. However, it is recommended that farmers produce cocoa in areas designated as suitable in the Municipality to guarantee productive land use.