Agroforestry as Climate Change Adaptation, 1st ed. 2024 The Case of Cocoa Farming in Ghana

This open access book provides multidisciplinary perspectives on the potential of agroforestry to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change on cocoa production. Against the backdrop of increasingly precarious farmer livelihoods, it focuses on cocoa-agroforestry in Ghana ? the second largest producer of cocoa in the world. Taking the reader on a journey across experimental plots and on-farm studies, the book delivers a holistic understanding of cocoa-agroforestry. Chapters examine historical yield and climate interactions, the effects of heat and drought on cocoa plants and the role of differing shade trees on soil fertility, yields, pests and diseases. The book discusses the socioeconomics of shade tree management, including cost-benefits, tree rights and competition for natural resources emphasizing policy implications and recommendations.

Taking a multidisciplinary approach to climate-agriculture interactions, the book provides an innovative understanding of agroforestry and perennial cropping systems that goes beyond the Ghanaian cocoa belt. It is of relevance to students, researchers, farmers, practitioners and policymakers working with agroforestry and climate change adaptation.

This is an open access book.

Chapter 1. Introduction: Climate, Cocoa and Trees(Mette Fog Olwig, Richard Asare, Henrik Meilby, Philippe Vaast and Kwadwo Owusu).- Chapter 2.Cocoa Under Heat and Drought Stress (Eric Opoku Mensah, Philippe Vaast, Richard Asare, Christiana A. Amoatey, Kwadwo Owusu, Bismark Kwesi Asitoakor, and Anders Ræbild).- Chapter 3. Shade Tree Species Matter: Sustainable Cocoa Agroforestry Management (Bismark Kwesi Asitoakor, Anders Ræbild, Philippe Vaast, Hans Peter Ravn, Kwadwo Owusu, Eric Opoku Mensah and Richard Asare).- Chapter 4. Social Challenges and Opportunities in Agroforestry: Cocoa Farmers’ Perspectives (Aske S. Bosselmann, Sylvester Afram Boadi, Mette Fog Olwig and Richard Asare).- Chapter 5.Household Economics of Cocoa Agroforestry: Costs and Benefits (Sylvester Afram Boadi, Aske Skovmand Bosselmann, Kwadwo Owusu, Richard Asare and Mette Fog Olwig).- Chapter 6.Can Agroforestry Provide a Future for Cocoa? Implications for Policy and Practice(Mette Fog Olwig, Richard Asare, Philippe Vaast and Aske S. Bosselmann).

Mette Fog Olwig is Associate Professor of Global Studies and Development, Roskilde University

Aske Skovmand Bosselmann is Associate Professor of Natural Resource Economics & Policy, University of Copenhagen

Kwadwo Owusu is Professor of Geography and Resource Development, University of Ghana.