Productivity, Soil Health, and Tree Diversity in Dynamic Cacao Agroforestry Systems in Ecuador

Summer L. Allen (), Lenin Alejandro Robayo, Carla D. Martin and José Lopez Ganem
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Summer L. Allen: Fine Cacao and Chocolate Institute, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
Lenin Alejandro Robayo: Union of Cocoa Peasant Organizations, San Jacinto de Yaguachi 092103, Guayas, Ecuador
Carla D. Martin: Fine Cacao and Chocolate Institute, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
José Lopez Ganem: Fine Cacao and Chocolate Institute, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA

Land, 2024, vol. 13, issue 7, 1-17

Abstract: Agroforestry has the potential to support more resilient livelihoods, soil health, and biodiversity, when compared to monocropping. In Ecuador, the Union of Cacao Peasant Organizations (UNOCACE) has been working with producers since 2016 to transition cacao plots to a dynamic agroforestry system that includes timber and fruit species as well as ground cover in addition to cacao. This study evaluates the application of this model and its implications for agricultural production, livelihoods, and soil health through producer surveys and field-based sampling. The program is resulting in significantly more timber and fruit trees on the cacao plots. Despite this, cacao production and income have not decreased in a significant way, once accounting for the number of producing trees on the plots. In addition, while additional labor is utilized on the dynamic agroforestry plots, after utilizing a matching procedure, no significant difference is seen in total crop productivity for each day of labor utilized. Over time, total productivity could increase for the dynamic agroforestry plots as the companion crops and trees mature. As the program is relatively new and has undergone some changes, additional studies are needed to understand the benefits or challenges, especially for soil health, that might be realized further in the lifespan of the program.

Keywords: agroforestry; cacao; soil carbon; livelihoods; Ecuador; tree diversity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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