TITLE:
Socio-Economic Importance of Certain Development Indicators Linked to Farmers in Cocoa-Based Agroforestry Systems in the Central Region of Cameroon
AUTHORS:
Madountsap Tagnang Nadege, Ngansop Tounkam Marlène, Tajeukem Vice Clotèxe, Tchinda Metagne Carole
KEYWORDS:
AFS Cocoa, Farmers, Floristic Composition, Socioeconomic, Structure
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Ecology,
Vol.15 No.12,
December
4,
2025
ABSTRACT: Agroforestry Systems (AFS) in Cameroon have considerable socio-economic potential and their composition is essentially determined by the type of producers and their strategies. This study was conducted in the cocoa AFS of the localities of Yambassa and Talba in the Central Region of Cameroon. The characterization and socio-economic development indicators related to farmers were done using semi-structured survey forms sent to producers. Sampling was done in the 25 m × 25 m (625 m2) quadrats of the cocoa AFS to determine their floristic composition and in addition to cocoa trees, all trees with a diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥ 5 cm were inventoried. A total of 180 cocoa farmers were surveyed and 122 quadrats were carried out in the study area. For producers of Traditional, SODECAO and Innovative cocoa AFS, the money from cocoa sales contributes a priori to nutrition at 47%, 32% and 32% respectively. A total of 8734 individuals belonging to 44 species and 24 families were collected in the cocoa AFS of the study area. No significant difference was found (ANOVA, p = 0.053) between the number of cocoa trees per hectare by type of cocoa AFS. The density of woody plants/ha is higher in Traditional and SODECAO AFS (respectively 84 ± 51.8 and 77 ± 36.0 individuals/ha) than in Innovative AFS (21 ± 20.8 individuals/ha). The species present in cocoa plantations produce goods and services to producers and the environment such as traditional medicine (Voacanga africana, Anthocleista schweinfurthii), timber and crafts (Podocarpus milanjianus, Milicia excelsa, Triplochyton scleroxylon, Ceiba pentandra Terminalia superba) and fruit trees such as Persea americana, Citrus sp. and Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) such as Cola accuminata. For sustainable agroforestry systems, it would be essential to combine agroecological performance and sustainability of cocoa AFS.