Cocoa Production Research Articles

Cadmium maps to aid Colombian cocoa producers

Cadmium maps to aid Colombian cocoa producers

Cocoa Farmers’ Perceptions of Drought and Adaptive Strategies in the Ghana–Togo Transboundary Cocoa Belt

This study investigated the perception of drought by cocoa farmers and explored the effectiveness of adaptive strategies (ASs) used in smallholding farms in the transboundary region between Ghana and Togo. Drought significantly threatens cocoa production in this region, affecting farmers’ livelihoods and cocoa supply chains. This study used a multistage sampling approach, which involved surveys with questionnaires administered to 330 cocoa farmers throughout the study area, along with on-site observations. Statistical analysis included binary logistic and Poisson regression models to explore the relationship between farmer socioeconomic characteristics and adaptation practices. The findings revealed that cocoa farmers in the region have a nuanced understanding of drought, attributed to changing climatic patterns and unsustainable land management practices such as deforestation. To mitigate its impacts, farmers employ a variety of ASs, including investment in farm management, soil management, and intercropping with crop diversification. Furthermore, socioeconomic factors, including age, formal education, household size, land tenure right, adaptation cost assessment, and an underestimation of self-efficacy, were shown to affect the choice in the AS. Among the ASs adopted, only farm management practices (weeding, pruning, fertilizer application, etc.) significantly improved yield. This study contributes to understanding drought as a critical issue for cocoa farmers and the adaptation practices used by smallholder cocoa farmers. Given that among the strategies adopted, only farm management practices, also known as good agricultural practices (GAPs), significantly improves yield, this study recommends well-designed and innovative packages of sustainable farm management based on farm and owner characteristics. These include irrigation schemes, timely soil fertilizer monitoring and supply, and the provision of drought-resistant varieties along with technical itineraries. Additional interventions require drought emergency responses, with other factors such as education and financial support mechanisms expected to improve farmers’ timely decision-making to adapt and improve cocoa production resilience to drought episodes in international transboundary regions with complex governance structures.

A value chain modeling approach for upscaling the production of fine flavor cocoa in Arauca (Colombia)

AbstractThe fine flavor cocoa (FFC) market offers additional income for small farmers. Despite the potential of several Latin American countries to produce FFC, their lack of standardized postharvest processes hinders compliance with high‐quality standards demanded by the FFC market, as these processes have a direct impact on cocoa's organoleptic characteristics. This work supports the design of a collective postharvest transformation model that coordinates the main steps in the cocoa agri‐food chain: transport of the cocoa harvest, classification, fermentation, drying, storage, and commercialization. Our methodology includes a modeling scheme combining optimization and simulation models, considering variability in the processes, and covering operational (transport and resource allocation), tactical (design and sizing of the processing plant), and strategic (sales dynamics) decisions across the cocoa value chain. We illustrate this methodology in a case study in Arauca, Colombia. Our findings emphasize the importance of combining these operational and strategic models since their inputs and outputs are interconnected influencing the decision‐making within the cocoa value chain. Our study also identifies key determinants for the postharvest design, highlighting the postharvest center capacity, FFC prices, and the market selling mode (export or local).

Social Life Cycle Assessment of Cocoa Production: Evidence from Ivory Coast and Ghana

Cocoa is a natural resource that plays a very important role globally, being one of the most produced and traded commodities. As a labour-intensive product and considering that its cultivation involves about 50 million people globally, it seems significant to explore its social sustainability. In light of this, this research aimed to map social risks within the cocoa supply chain from a life cycle perspective. Therefore, the Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) was used, following the PSILCA database, considering the two most influential countries in its production, i.e., Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. The results showed that there could be a very high risk that more than half of the cocoa globally is produced through child labour and with wages too low to guarantee workers a decent living, returning incomes of $30–38/month. Forced labour is much less frequent than child labour, while cocoa from Ghana may induce a high risk of improper work, considering the 30.2 h per week worked by farmers. This is mainly due to the low association power of 10–16%, which reveals a high risk that workers may not organise themselves into trade unions. Finally, at 23–25%, there is also a very high risk of discrimination due to the high presence of migrant labour. Therefore, the S-LCA results showed that the cocoa industry is still characterised by socially unsustainable sourcing.

Market Evolution and Consumer Trends in Poland's Confectionery Industry

The Polish confectionery market is considered to be one of the most developed and dynamic markets in the world. But in recent years, the Polish food industry has faced a sharp increase in production and marketing costs, disruptions in the supply chains of raw materials, consumables and packaging, as well as the loss of traditional sales markets due to the war in Ukraine. The study of the peculiarities of the Polish confectionery market made it possible to assess the main indicators of the Polish market of confectionery goods of all categories, as well as its volume and trends. The article analyzes the situation on the Polish confectionery market, including production, export, import, consumption, geographic location of the market, levels of competition and development of the market's production and transport infrastructure. It was concluded that during 2022 there was a 12% increase in the volume of production of confectionery goods of all categories. At the same time the manufacture of Polish flour confectionery products increased by 19.3%. The growth rates of production of cocoa–rich and sugar sweets were 3.8% and 6.8%, respectively. About 50–70% of manufactured products are exported by Polish manufacturers. It is necessary to mention that during 2022 a record number of products were exported from Poland, exceeding the similar figures of the previous year by 13.8%. Meanwhile, despite the presence of developed domestic production of confectionery goods in Poland, the volume of imported supplies traditionally remains high and increased by 7.8% in 2022. At the same time, the level of competition in the Polish domestic market for flour, cocoa–rich/chocolate and sugar confectionery products is estimated as high. The level of the market's production and transport infrastructure is rated as developed.

Cocoa pod husk-derived organic soil amendments differentially affect soil fertility, nutrient leaching, and greenhouse gas emissions in cocoa soils

The depletion of soil nutrients and decline in yields on cocoa farms in west Africa over time force farmers to abandon their farms and look for new fertile land, thereby contributing to deforestation. Cocoa pod husks (CPH) are a major farm waste representing considerable export of nutrients from cocoa soils, particularly P and K. Here, the impacts of soil amendment with raw CPH residues, CPH compost, CPH biochar, or a CPH compost-biochar mixture on soil fertility, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and nutrient losses via leaching were assessed in two laboratory experiments using two major soil types used for cocoa cultivation in Ghana (an acidic Ferralsol and an alkaline Nitisol). In Experiment 1, soil nutrient availability and CO2 and N2O emissions were quantified, whereas simulation and quantification of nutrient leaching were conducted in Experiment 2. Soil pH increased from 4.8 and 8.6 by 1.4- and 1.1-folds on average in amended Ferralsols and Nitisols, respectively. Soil electrical conductivity increased in soils amended with CPH compost and/or biochar. Addition of raw CPH caused remarkable microbial immobilisation of N and reduced N availability and leaching, whereas CPH compost and/or biochar addition increased soil nitrate availability but reduced soil ammonium availability. Leaching of Ca in Nitisols was reduced when CPH biochar was included in the soil amendment. While soil K availability increased in all amended soils, most notably when CPH biochar was included, soil P and Ca availabilities were greatest where CPH compost was included. Soil total GHG emission (CO2 plus N2O) increased in all amended Ferralsols and the Nitisols amended with CPH compost or raw CPH, with the latter remarkably increasing soil CO2 emission by up to 14.8-folds. Compared to sole CPH compost amendment, CPH compost-biochar mixture amendment reduced soil total GHG emission and N and P leaching. These findings show that composted and/or pyrolysed CPH can be judiciously used to enhance soil fertility in cocoa farms, particularly in acidic soils. Pyrolysed CPH is especially beneficial for reducing soil nutrient leaching and GHG emissions and thus for increasing the sustainability of cocoa production in Ghana and west Africa.

The Effectiveness of Essential Oils as Vegetable Pheromones Against Cocoa Pests Using The Trap Method

Cocoa plants are one of the important commodities in plantation crops. The decreasing cocoa production is caused by several factors, one of which is pest attacks. There are several main pests in cocoa plants, namely, fruit borer pests, fruit sucking pests and lice. Currently, the use of chemical insecticides has been widely studied, causing many residues that can pollute the environment and disrupt the stability of the agro-ecosystem. One alternative that can be used is the use of attractants, namely pheromones derived from plant extracts containing essential oils. The use of pheromones with the trap method is one of the insect trapping techniques that has been widely used in control. The purpose of this study was to obtain the best combination of essential oils as vegetable pheromones to control pests in cocoa plants. This study consisted of six treatments and three replications. Treatment consists of use of vegetable pheromones derived from patchouli oil, cinnamon oil, oil nutmeg, clove oil, control (water) and combination (all treatments).

Integrating life cycle assessment and multi criteria decision making analysis towards sustainable cocoa production system in Indonesia: An environmental, economic, and social impact perspective

Sustainable Cocoa production practices should be investigated comprehensively to address sustainability requirements and mitigate Cocoa production issues in Indonesia. This study aims to identify the sustainable Cocoa production system considering the environmental, economic, and social impacts. Life cycle framework and multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) were integrated to obtain the study's objectives by comparing Cocoa monocropping system (CM) and Cocoa intercropping systems (IC). The result indicated that in the environmental sustainability aspect, the monocropping system (CM) showed higher performance as indicated by the lower environmental impact in all indicators; for example, CM emitted a lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) that has a lower margin of 34.5–55.9 % compared to the intercropping system (IC-I and IC-II). In the economic aspect, both on the short-term and long-term analysis, the Cocoa intercropping system (IC-II) generated higher value-added and economic feasibility, with a higher profit margin of 150–205 % compared to CM and IC-1. Along with the increase of economic benefits in IC II, this system also significantly provides social benefits, as presented by the higher social index margin of 4.9–23.7 % compared to other systems. Furthermore, by applying decision-making analysis, the result determines the highest index on the Cocoa intercropping system II (IC-II). These findings highlight that applying the intercropping system II is recommended to overcome the cocoa issue at the farmer and decision-maker levels. Additionally, the proposed method that combined LCA-MCDM can be applied to another agricultural commodity to achieve sustainable agriculture production.

Transformation of Organic Cacao (Theobroma cacao) Husk into Commercial

Introduction: agroindustrial wastes can be transformed to mitigate the negative impacts associated with their disposal. In cocoa production, cocoa pod husk (CPH) constitutes between 67% and 76% of the total cocoa weight. This study focuses on the potential of CPH as a valuable resource for producing activated carbon, cellulose, and potassium hydroxide (KOH)..Objective: The objective of this research was to characterize and transform the CPH obtained from an organic crop in San Bernardo-Ibagué (Colombia) into activated carbon, cellulose, and KOH.Methods: activated carbon was produced through chemical activation using KOH, with a specific procedure for characterizing the obtained product through thermal analysis (TGA) and nitrogen adsorption and desorption isotherms. For cellulose extraction, an alkaline treatment with 2% w/w NaOH was followed by a bleaching process with 2.5% w/w sodium hypochlorite. KOH was obtained by first extracting potassium carbonate and then causticizing it.Results: activated carbon (AC) was produced with a yield of 25.6%, exhibiting a surface area of 468 m²/g, a mean pore diameter of 10.8 nm, and a total pore volume of 0.228 cm³/g, with 60% fixed carbon, 27% volatile material, 6% ash, and 6% moisture. Conclusions: the transformation of cocoa pod husk into activated carbon, cellulose, and KOH provides a sustainable approach to managing agroindustrial waste, generating valuable products with significant potential for various applications. The results obtained demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing CPH as a resource in agroindustrial processes.

Impact of agricultural credit on productivity, cost and returns from cocoa production in Ghana

Impact of agricultural credit on productivity, cost and returns from cocoa production in Ghana

Impact of High-density Planting Spacing on Physiological Traits of Cocoa Grown under Coconut Trees

High-density planting (HDP) maximizes land productivity. Optimizing cocoa spacing under coconut trees enhances physiological traits and yield potential. Despite cocoa's integration into coconut agroforestry, spacing's impact on cocoa physiology is unclear. Studying this influence provides insights for better planting strategies, improved crop performance, and sustainable cocoa production in agroforestry settings. The experiment was conducted at the Coconut Farm of the Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. Employing a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with eight treatments replicated three times, the study aimed to explore how different spacing levels influence physiological traits in cocoa cultivation. The treatments involved in the experiment included a double row of cocoa planted between two rows of coconut trees, with spacing configurations as follows: T1 (3m x 1.2m), T2 (3m x 2m), T3 (3m x 2.5m), and T4 (3m x 3m). Additionally, a single row of cocoa between two coconut rows was examined, with spacings represented by T5 (1.5m), T6 (2m), T7 (2.5m), and T8 (3m). Results indicated distinct patterns among spacing treatments, with significant differences observed in various physiological characteristics. Notably, T1 (3m x 1.2m) demonstrated the highest leaf area (462.71cm2) and leaf area index (4.85), while T8 (3m) exhibited the highest light interception (74.12%). Additionally, T3 (3m x 2.5m) showcased the highest chlorophyll index (40.52) in cocoa leaves. These findings underscore the importance of spacing configurations in influencing key physiological parameters in cocoa cultivation, providing valuable insights for optimizing planting practices.

Pedological Study under Cocoa Trees and its Implication on Production in Soubré, Southwest Region of Ivory Coast

Maintaining the fertility of cultivated soils in tropical countries such as Ivory Coast remains a major concern for producers because of crop failures. The aim of this study is to determine the soil characteristics of a cocoa plantation in the Soubré region (southwest of Ivory Coast: 6° - 7° N latitude and 5° - 7° W longitude), in order to improve production. In the centre of the plantation, a section of land (50 m × 50 m) was identified. Five soil pits were opened on this section of land, one at each corner and one in the centre. Soil samples were taken from each of the pits, in the 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm layers. Composite samples were then taken at these two depths for the analytical data. The pH, sum of exchangeable bases (S), cation exchange capacity (CEC), saturation rate of exchangeable bases (V), particle size fraction and organic matter content were measured and compared with threshold values known from the literature. The results show that pH (5.6 - 6.8) and assimilable phosphorus [P ass (130 - 350 ppm)] increase with depth and are in good proportion. Concentrations of potassium (K+ : 2.9 - 2.3 cmol/kg), calcium (Ca2+ : 29.1 - 47.2 cmol/kg) and magnesium (Mg2+ : 2.7 - 22 cmol/kg), as well as chemical properties (S : 35 - 73 cmol/kg, CEC : 48 - 80 cmol/kg and V : 73 - 90 %) are relatively good for cocoa production. However, organic matter (1.38%) and total nitrogen (N = 0.1 - 0.05%) are low. And high levels of clay (48%) and silt (23%) were noted from the first 20 cm depth. Spreading organic matter in the form of compost could therefore be recommended in order to correct the defective characteristics of the soils caused by the abundance of these two mineral particles: clay and silt, on the one hand, and deficiencies in nitrogen and organic matter, on the other.

Analysis of Rural Producers' Performance Indicators: a Case Study of Cooperative Members of the Southern Bahia Cocoa Indication of Origin

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate performance indicators for cocoa in the southern region of Bahia for the period 2021-2023. Theoretical Framework: Through a literature review, this study aims to understand the concepts and connections between Geographical Indication and its impacts on socio-economic development as a basis for analyzing qualitative data collected from the Cacau Sul da Bahia Association and the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service to evaluate and compare the impacts over time. Method: An applied and exploratory approach was used, using secondary data, which was analyzed according to Bardin's (1997) proposal. Results and Discussion: The research shows the seasonality of cocoa production in the south of Bahia, with production peaks in July, the peak harvest season. Production stability is suggested for the 2021-2023 period. The geographical distribution of producers showed a concentration of production in a few municipalities, as well as the fact that only five maintained regularities over the three years. Research Implications: The research implies the need for management and planning strategies to ensure the sustainability of the sector and promote greater participation by municipalities in cocoa production in the region. Originality/Value: This study proposes a comprehensive assessment of the socio-economic and environmental impacts in a region with a product protected by Geographical Indication.

Is Cocoa Production a Main Driver of Children’s Work in Ghana?

Child labour in cocoa production remains a major concern. Yet, an overall assessment of the role of cocoa production in child labour, comparing with other household livelihood activities, as well as a more nuanced view on the work that is done by children, is lacking. Using data from the Ghana Living Standards Survey 2017, we model the probability of children’s work based on cocoa production and a set of other variables at child, parental, household and community level. We specify children’s work in different ways to better interpret employment conditions, compare effects across gender and age of the child, and address potential bias by controlling for measurement error and using an instrumental variable estimation and a coefficient stability approach. We find that cocoa production increases the probability of working on the own farm but not exceeding allowable work time or in harmful conditions. The effects are similar for boys and girls but are much larger for older children. Other farm-household activities, especially food crop production and livestock ownership, are much more strongly associated with children’s work, often under more harmful conditions. This implies that solely targeting the cocoa sector might run the risk to transpose child labour to other activities.

Preliminary Study on the Relationship between Location, Infrastructure, and Transportation of Productive Malaysia Cocoa Farmers (PMCF) towards Work Performances in Sarawak, Malaysia

Malaysian cocoa production relied on cocoa farmers since 2006 because they were the major holder (81.4%) of the cocoa cultivation area. As for Sarawak, 100% of cocoa production was from cocoa farmers. Sarawak used to produce 21,200 metric tons of dried cocoa beans in 1990. The government also has spent more on training and fertilizer for cocoa farmers to increase PMCF productivity. However, the production keeps gradually decreasing yearly. In 2021, Sarawak only produced 59 metric tons of dried cocoa beans and the productivity decreased by 10% to 0.19 metric/ton/ha/year compared to 2019 productivity (MCB, 2022). In order to strategies the long-term improvement of cocoa production, this study aims to define the relationship between location, infrastructure, and transportation toward the work performance of Sarawak PMCF. Driven by Iceberg Model, the objectives of this preliminary study are to determine i) the location, infrastructure, and transportation towards work performance levels ii) the relationship between location, infrastructure, and transportation with work performance iii) the most factors (IVs) that contribute more toward work performances. A total number of 35 respondents were involved in this purposive data collection which is only 30% of the sample population of the preliminary study which was 105 PMCF. The sample procedure used the approach of random sampling technique. These 35 respondents were selected involving 3.6% of respondents for each zone population of Sarawak rural areas namely the Northern, Middle, and Southern Coastal Zone. The data was r by IBM SPSS version 25.0. The data were tested by using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and then analyzed by descriptive, correlation, and regression analysis to answer all objectives. The study found all the variables showed moderate-level indicators. The variables that showed moderate and positive correlation were location and infrastructure. In contrast, location is the most contributing factor to the work performance of PMCF in Sarawak.

Perceived phytosanitary impacts of climate change and climate change adaptation among Cocoa farmers in Cameroon

Cocoa productivity is dependent on favourable weather variables. In Cameroon, climate change presents some phytosanitary challenges to cocoa farmers due to weed and cocoa pest problems. This paper analyzed the perceived phytosanitary impacts of climate change and the determinants of selected mitigation options in Cameroon. The data were collected using stratified random sampling from 303 farmers in Centre Cameroon. The data were analyzed with Probit regression. The results showed that cocoa farming operations were affected by climate change through weed control problems (51.48%), more incidence of black pod disease (65.02%), more incidence of malaria (68.98%), more cocoa pests (72.94%), death of cocoa trees (74.26%) and general reduction in cocoa yields (78.88%). The Probit regression results revealed that some adaptation methods were significantly influenced by perceived phytosanitary impacts of climate change such as perception of more pests, difficulties in weed control, death of cocoa trees, and black pod diseases. Other impacts such as malaria, pneumonia, lack of drinking water, inability to effective spray cocoa pod and dry the beans also showed some statistical significances with different impacts on adaptation. Cocoa farmers’ demographic characteristics such as education, gender, farming experience and primary occupation also influenced some adaptation methods. It was concluded that climate change presents significant constraints to cocoa production, and efforts to address the problem should integrate proper education on perception of the phytosanitary impacts and relevant mitigation with sensitivity on farmers’ gender, education level and the nature of primary occupation. Res. Agric. Livest. Fish. Vol. 11, No. 2, August 2024: 215-230

Evaluating Sustainable Alternatives for Cocoa Waste Utilization Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process

Cocoa production has emerged as an effective agricultural strategy to reduce conflict in Colombia, transitioning from coca to cocoa cultivation. While this shift has provided economic benefits, it has also resulted in the generation of substantial cocoa by-products. Although there are various alternative methods of utilizing these by-products, many farmers are unaware of them, and others lack the necessary tools to determine which alternative is the best to pursue. This study sought to explore sustainable options for cocoa waste utilization through the application of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). By employing technological surveillance, viable options for reusing cocoa residues were identified. The AHP results indicate that pellet production is a promising alternative for rural communities. It is also a potential source of energy that could address the community’s need for alternative energy sources. Initially, other energy production alternatives were not explored. However, in response to the AHP findings, this study also explored the use of cocoa waste combined with animal manure for energy generation through anaerobic digestion.

Comercio justo, eje central del desarrollo en productores locales y exportadores de cacao Theobroma cacao L. en el cantón Quevedo

The study was conducted in Quevedo Canton, Los Ríos Province, Ecuador. The objective was to analyze fair trade, a central axis of development for local cocoa producers and exporters (Theobroma cacao L.). Descriptive research methods were applied, along with analytical and deductive approaches. Surveys using a Likert scale were employed. The survey’s reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, yielding a value of 0.81 for 14 elements. The variables considered were education level, quality of life, fair trade, and economic development. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (Version 22.0). The results demonstrate a positive impact on international, national, and local market prices, contributing to the sustainable development of cocoa producers. Exploring fair trade practices in production reveals significant interest and potential when adopting measures that promote equity and sustainability within the cocoa value chain. Education emerges as a key driver of development through training programs, enabling producers to fully engage in productive, economic, and commercial activities. Ultimately, fair trade practices are closely tied to pricing and productive activities in cocoa cultivation.

Surface Temperature Changes and Effects on Cocoa Yield in the Top Four Cocoa Producing Countries of Africa: A Comparative Analysis

Cocoa is a leading export crop to the world market and Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon in Africa, accounts for about 70% of the global supply. However, increasing global warming with attendant high ambient temperature had affected yields in the tropical regions of Africa. The data of 61 years (1961 – 2021), area harvested (ha), yield (kg/ha) and temperature (OC) were sourced from the database of Food and Agricultural Organisation Corporate Statistical (FAOSTAT). Least squares regression and correlation analysis models were used for data analysis. Results showed that mean ambient temperature in Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon have increased by 0.7661, 0.7507, 0.7333 and 0.6400 OC for a total of 51, 51, 50 and 49 years respectively, while mean decreases were 0.1541, 0.1693, 0.1710, 0.1392oC for 10, 10, 11 and 12 years respectively. Annual average temperature increase was highest (0.0243oC) in Cote D’Ivoire with regression coefficient (R2) of 0.7232 and least (0.0200oC) in Nigeria at R2 of 0.6380. However, in both countries, annual temperature decreased by 0.0012o and 0.0007o with R2 of 0.0052 and 0.0014 respectively. The mean annual temperature increase in Ghana and Cameroon were 0.023o and 0.0204o with R2 of 0.7364 and 0.6965 respectively, while the decreases were 0.0019o and -0.0011o with R2 of 0.0152 and 0.0431 respectively. The cocoa cumulative yield (kg/ha) reduced by 105.8, 90.8 and 75.0kg/ha respectively in Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana and Cameroon when temperature decreased, but increased by 12.5kg/ha in Nigeria during same temperature decreasing trend. In Ghana and Cameroon, cocoa annual yield was higher in the years of temperature increase, while decreased ambient temperature enhanced cocoa yield in Nigeria and Cote D’Ivoire. Hence, to enhance cocoa yield in the top four cocoa producing countries of Africa, the ambient temperatures should be controlled through the adoption of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP).

Complex cocoa agroforestry systems shaped within specific socioeconomic and historical contexts in Africa: Lessons from Cameroonian farmers

CONTEXTIn the humid tropics, the socioecological advantages of family-based, multistory agroforestry systems are well recognized. Yet public policies tend to focus on conservation and land-sparing strategies alongside the promotion of modern intensive agriculture, neglecting these biodiverse agroecosystems, which are in decline. This is a particularly central issue in cocoa cultivation. In Africa's two largest cocoa-producing countries (Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana), cocoa plantations with few associated trees contribute to deforestation and biodiversity loss. In contrast, in regions like Cameroon, biodiversity-rich cocoa agroforests prevail. Considering global changes and rising cocoa demand, it is crucial to preserve and develop these agroforestry systems that reconcile cocoa production with ecosystem services. OBJECTIVEThis study, conducted in Cameroon between 2013 and 2017, aimed to pinpoint the socioeconomic factors influencing the characteristics, maintenance, and degradation of cocoa agroforests, with the ultimate goal of identifying intervention strategies to promote their preservation and development. METHODSThe study collected data from (i) on-field measurements in 95 cocoa agroforestry plots, (ii) interviews with the 95 farmers managing the plots, and (iii) historical interviews with 50 key informants. We focused on five sites across a gradient of population density, encompassing various socioecological environments and types of cocoa agroforests. Through thematic and statistical analyses, we evaluated differences between the five sites. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSOur results indicated contrasting management practices, dendrometric structure, species composition, and cocoa yields between sites. These contrasts largely reflected socioeconomic factors and site-specific dynamics. Cocoa agroforests were less rich in biodiversity in sites where farmers with capital using hired labor had acquired land than in sites where family farmers predominated. A trade-off was found between the richness of companion trees and cocoa yields. Plots managed by smallholder family farmers near urban areas tended to better reconcile cocoa production and biodiversity conservation. These farmers had gradually transformed their traditional agroforests to adapt to increasing demographic pressure by integrating diverse fruit tree species, using pesticides sparingly, and introducing selected cocoa varieties mixed with older varieties. SIGNIFICANCEThe small-scale family-managed cocoa agroforests, which incorporate fruit species as described in this study, could serve as a model for a more sustainable cocoa production strategy. However, developing such a strategy would require greater investment and support from policymakers. This includes supporting the marketing of products from companion trees, stabilizing cocoa prices at a high level, and implementing land policies that protect small and medium-sized family farmers.