Influences of climate variability on cocoa health and productivity in agroforestry systems in Ghana

Summary

This four-year observational study on 460 cocoa trees across 23 Ghanaian farms demonstrates that regional climate gradients (north to south) significantly influenced cocoa productivity and disease burden, with southern high-rainfall zones producing the highest yields (0.99 kg dry beans tree⁻¹) but highest black pod disease incidence, whilst northern dry zones experienced greater insect pest damage (3.0 pods tree⁻¹ year⁻¹). Within-site rainfall and temperature variability did not significantly affect yields, suggesting that farm management practices—particularly pruning for aeration and shade tree management—are critical drivers of productivity and pest/disease control in cocoa agroforestry systems.

Regional applicability

This study was conducted in Ghana and is directly relevant to West African cocoa production. The findings on climate suitability, pest pressure gradients, and management recommendations have limited direct application to United Kingdom agriculture, which does not grow cocoa commercially; however, the methodological approach to assessing climate impacts on perennial crop health and the emphasis on management-level adaptation may inform UK agroforestry and climate resilience research more broadly.

Key measures

Insect pest damage (pods tree⁻¹ year⁻¹), black pod disease incidence (pods tree⁻¹ year⁻¹), canopy condition, flower intensity, dried cocoa bean yield (kg tree⁻¹), rainfall and temperature across geographic zones

Outcomes reported

The study measured cocoa tree canopy condition, flower intensity, pod damage from insects and disease, and dried bean yield across 23 farms over 4 years along a rainfall and temperature gradient in Ghana. Relationships between climate variability, pest/disease pressure, and productivity were assessed at farm and regional scales.

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