Understanding the diverse values of shade trees on cocoa farms in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Cocoa supports the livelihoods of millions worldwide, most of whom are smallholder farmers in West Africa. In Ekiti State, Nigeria, cocoa agriculture is economically important but also a key driver of deforestation—over half of the region’s forest cover has been lost in recent decades. Shaded agroforestry systems offer potential to align conservation and agricultural goals while diversifying farmer income. However, decision-making around shade retention, and the trade-offs between cocoa yield and shade-derived benefits, remains poorly understood, particularly in under-researched contexts like Nigeria. Framed through a social-ecological systems lens, this study investigates the values that underpin cocoa farmers' decisions around shade tree retention in Ekiti State by analysing tree species composition, density, and basal area alongside farmer perspectives using content and thematic analysis, across fifteen farms in Ekiti State. Shade trees were common on farms, and provided notable, though varying, contributions to farmers’ incomes. Most farmers valued trees for their climate regulation (86%) and financial security (73%) benefits. Shade tree density and diversity (160–960 trees/ha; 3–15 species/farm), as well as perspectives and practices, varied widely. Most farmers regularly cut trees, while others (7%) felt they were too valuable to remove. Some actively planted trees (47%); others relied on natural regeneration. Understanding the diverse values and practices presented in this study is crucial for the effective development and adoption of sustainable agroforestry interventions on cocoa farms in Ekiti and Nigeria. These findings have broader relevance for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers aiming to promote socially and ecologically resilient cocoa landscapes.