Cocoa system productivity and response to severe drought along climate suitability transect in Ghana

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1 Cocoa system productivity and response to severe drought along climate suitability transect in Ghana Issaka Abdulai (Philippe Vaast, Laurence Jassogne, Munir Hoffmann, Sophie Graefe, Richard Asare, Mustapha A. Dalaa, Piet van Asten, Reimund P. Rötter) Division Crop Production Systems in the Tropics, Georg-August-University Göttingen and IITA Next Generation Cocoa Research Symposium

2 Introduction Reduction in climate suitability of current cocoa production area across West Africa WA contributes more than 7% of the world s cocoa production Livelihood of over million smallholder households is threatened Regional and plot level adaptation required. better understanding of current productivity and response to climate variability of different existing cocoa systems Next Generation Cocoa Research Symposium

3 Cocoa production challenges in Ghana Pests and diseases Low soil fertility Poor management practices Lack of forest land for new farms Reduction in climate suitability of the current cocoa production area Cocoa trees may suffer heat and water stress from climate change Next Generation Cocoa Research Symposium

4 Objectives To assess the effect of climatic variation on cocoa plant productivity current To assess the effect of cocoa systems on productivity To assess management response to extended dry period Next Generation Cocoa Research Symposium

5 Materials and Methods '"N '"N 9 '"N '"N 7 '"N '"N '"N '"W Study sites ") Dry # Mid ^ Wet RAIN_RANGE '"W ## # ## # # ^ ^^^^ ^ ^ '"W ") ")")") ")")")")")")") ")")") ")")")")") ") ")") ") ")") '"W '"W '"W '"W '"W '" '"E Fig. Studied sites along rainfall gradient in Ghana '". '"E '"N '"N Next Generation Cocoa Research Symposium 9 '"N '"N 7 '"N '"N '"N 7 plots selected at the locations along climate gradient (Asankragua, Goaso and Akumadan) where baseline data was initially collected in. Nine (9) farmers, per cocoa system were selected at each location based high shade ( >% shade cover) medium shade ( %) and open sun (<%) Data was collected over month period at monthly intervals. ibuttons were installed to monitor temperature and relative humidity Two ibuttons per system ( ibuttons per location)

6 Twenty () cocoa trees/plot were selected ( cocoa trees) Diagonal lines in an imaginary rectangle was established to divide the plot into quadrants. The sample trees were then taken along the diagonals ensuring even distribution. Next Generation Cocoa Research Symposium Materials and methods / Cocoa tree performance indicators Flowering intensity (Rank ) Fruiting (cherrels and matured count) Cocoa tree vigor; canopy health (Rank ) Pest and diseases (Count of infested fruits) Black pod Capsid Cherrels wilt Management and cultural practices Weeding cost and frequency Pesticide, fertilizer and fungicide application Harvesting frequency Monthly dry bean yield Method for selecting sample Cocoa Trees on a plot

7 Results Micro climatic variations Lower minimum temp at dry region Lowest RH during dry season at dry location Drought much severe at dry regions Next Generation Cocoa Research Symposium 7

8 Pest damaged cherrels Pest damaged cherrels Pest damaged cherrels Cocoa tree productivity Cherrel count Pest damage cherrels (capsids & bugs) Next Generation Cocoa Research Symposium

9 Yield kg/ha Yield kg/ha/yr Yield kg/ha Yield kg/ha Monthly yield Kg/ha Yield is positively related to climatic zone Open sun systems produce higher yields at the dry sites Aug Sep Okt Nov Dez Jan Feb Mrz Apr Mai Jun Shaded system rather better at wet sites (water might be the driving factor) Aug Sep Okt Nov Dez Jan Feb Mrz Apr Mai Jun HS MS OS Aug Sep Okt Nov Dez Jan Feb Mrz Apr Mai Jun Next Generation Cocoa Research Symposium Dry Mid Wet 9

10 Pesticides freq Weeding freq Pesticides frq Weeding freq Pesticides freq Weeding frq Management response Pesticides applications. Weeding frequency.... Aug Sep Okt Nov Dez Jan Feb Mrz Apr Mai Jun Aug Sep Okt Nov Dez Jan Feb Mrz Apr Mai Jun... Aug Sep Okt Nov Dez Jan Feb Mrz Apr Mai Jun.. Aug Sep Okt Nov Dez Jan Feb Mrz Apr Mai Jun..... Aug Sep Okt Nov Dez Jan Feb Mrz Apr Mai Jun Aug Sep Okt Nov Dez Jan Feb Mrz Apr Mai Jun Next Generation Cocoa Research Symposium

11 Post drought situation Wet location Mid location Next Generation Cocoa Research Symposium Dry-open sun Dry-shaded

12 Cocoa after drought Cashew after drought Next Generation Cocoa Research Symposium

13 Conclusions Productivity mainly driven by rainfall (agro ecological zone effect) Cocoa agroforestry system(shaded): performance limited by water (rainfall level) Cocoa production at less suitable (relatively dry) zone severly affected by extended drought Farmers respond with changed cocoa plot management (almost no inputs application for the post drought period) Dry region requires transformational adaptation (alternative cash crop, other livelihood activities) Next Generation Cocoa Research Symposium

14 nd April th June THANK YOU th July 9th August Next Generation Cocoa Research Symposium

15 Daily rainfall mm Micro climatic variations 7 Dry Very Dry Results Dry period of the studied period was much severe than the previous year Hence assessment of cocoa productivity response to such extended dry period Rainfall distribution at the dry region Next Generation Cocoa Research Symposium

16 Cherrels count (wilt) Cherrels count (wilt) Cherrels count (wilt) Cocoa tree productivity Blackpod(cherrels count) Cherrel wilt (count) Next Generation Cocoa Research Symposium

17 Cocoa tree productivity Matured count Harvested pod count Next Generation Cocoa Research Symposium 7

18 Cocoa tree productivity Flowering intensity (Rank -) Next Generation Cocoa Research Symposium