Tropentag, September 16 - 18, 2026, Göttingen "Towards multi-functional agro-ecosystems promoting climate-resilient futures"

Resilient cocoa agroforestry innovations under climate disturbance: comparing loum, tombel and transcontinental pilot regions

¹University of Dschang, Rural Socioeconomics and Agricultural Extension
²University of Dschang, Rural Socioeconomics and Agricultural Extensions (SERVA its French acronym), Cameroon
³Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD) , IRAD
⁴Institute of Agricultural Research for Development, IRAD Njombé, Cameroon

Abstract

This research examines resilience and agroforestry innovation in cocoa-based systems in Loum and Tombel, Littoral Region of Cameroon. The area is highly exposed to climate disturbances, and Cocoa, a strategic crop for the national economy, faces severe impacts including drought, temperature increases, rainfall irregularity and diseases that affect productivity and farm sustainability. The objective of this study is to understand how producers mobilise endogenous practices to strengthen their resilience. This research employs a mixed-method approach integrating quantitative and qualitative surveys. A sample of 83 producers (31 in Loum and 52 in Tombel) was selected through stratified and snowball sampling. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, processed using XLSTAT and SPSS, and analysed through triangulation. The survey revealed that farms contain an average of 36 trees, with a landscape dominated by safou (Dacryodes edulis) and avocado trees (Persea americana). The main manifestations of climate disturbances identified include plant desiccation (65%), yield decline (58%), and increased disease incidence (46%). Endogenous innovations implemented include the use of foliar fertilisers and phytosanitary products known as "Lavage" (57%), tree diversification (29%), varietal replacement, and participatory knowledge management. Constraints encountered by stakeholders are technical, financial, and institutional. In summary, the resilience of cocoa-based agroforestry systems relies on the diversity of tree species introduced into farms, endogenous innovation, and community organisation. To extend the comparative scope of this research, transcontinental pilot regions in Latin America — notably cocoa-producing hubs in Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia — are considered as reference frameworks for assessing analogous agroforestry resilience strategies under similar climatic pressures. These West Africa–Latin America cross-regional comparisons provide a broader empirical basis for assessing the transferability of endogenous innovations and informing global policy frameworks for sustainable cocoa systems.The study recommends strengthening institutional support, promoting regional scaling-up, and integrating digital platforms to enhance the dissemination of sustainable practices.

Keywords: Agroforestry innovation, climate disturbances, cocoa systems, Loum and Tombel, resilience, West Africa-Latin America

Contact Address: Herve Alain Napi Wouapi, University of Dschang, Rural Socioeconomics and Agricultural Extensions (SERVA its French acronym), University of dschang main campus, FASA-UDS Dschang, Cameroon, e-mail: hwouapigmail.com