TITLE:
Socioeconomic Analysis of Rainforest Alliance-Certified Cocoa Agroforestry Systems and Producer Behavior Facing the Cocoa Price Boom: Evidence from Haut-Nkam and Ndé Departments, West Cameroon
AUTHORS:
Salim Ali Ahmed Ngnemadon, Arnold Billy Tschoung’e Fokou, Mukete Ngoe, Ali Rajatou Laïla Houmdie
KEYWORDS:
Rainforest Alliance Certification, Cocoa Agroforestry, Financial Profitability, Binary Logistic Regression, Price Elasticity of Supply
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.13 No.6,
June
15,
2026
ABSTRACT: Against the backdrop of a global cocoa price boom (from 1000 to 6100 FCFA/kg between May 2022 and April 2024) and the rapid expansion of sustainable certification (41% of Cameroonian production certified in 2021-2022), this study assesses the socioeconomic effects of Rainforest Alliance (RA) certification on cocoa agroforestry systems in West Cameroon and describes producer behavioural responses to the exceptional price environment. Based on a sample of 105 producers (26 certified, 79 non-certified) surveyed in the subdivisions of Bagangté and Tonga (Ndé Department) and Kekem (Haut-Nkam Department), the study applies cost-benefit analysis, discounted profitability criteria (NPV, BCR, payback period), and binary logistic regression. Certified producers incur significantly higher total costs (319,114 vs 236,491 FCFA/ha, p p p p p ε = 0.04), confirming the structural inelasticity of cocoa production. Facing the price surge, 96.2% of producers upgraded their equipment and inputs, 86.7% diversified their crops, and 75.2% expanded their cultivated area. The study recommends establishing a meaningful certified-conventional price differential, strengthening participatory training, and improving land tenure security for non-certified producers.