Socio-economic assessment of different cocoa agroforestry systems in the forest-Savannah transition zone in central Côte d’Ivoire

ABSTRACT Cocoa production in Côte d’Ivoire is generally based on “full sun” crops. However, the presence of traditional agroforestry systems based on cocoa (AFSc) has been highlighted in several regions including the Centre and Centre-West. This study aimed to provide information on the financial profitability and the potential economic value of simple, mixed and complex AFSc types identified in central Côte d’Ivoire. A socio-economic survey and direct observations carried out among farmers with these AFSc types, revealed an annual average cocoa production of 207.7 kgha−1 (i.e. US$323.9). This income does not vary significantly from one type to another. Fruit species associated with cocoa trees yield an average of US$32.39 ha-1yr-1. This fruit contribution is more important in simple AFSc than in the two other types. Considering the profitability of cocoa trees and associated species, no system is more profitable than the other. However, the potential economic value of the stored carbon and the other benefits that the complex AFSc type provides to farmers make this type more efficient and sustainable than the two others considering ecosystem services. We therefore recommend that payment for ecosystems services be considered if one would like to promote complex cocoa agroforestry systems in the study areas.