Cocoa Research institute of Nigeria, CRIN, PMB 5244, Idi-Ayunre, Ibadan 2016 Next Generation Cocoa Research Symposium

Transcription

1 Developing cacao agroforestry systems for a sustainable, diversified production in Nigeria Oloyede, A.A., Adedeji, A.R., Famaye, A.O., Olaniyi, O.O. Akanbi, O.S.O and Shittu, T.R. Cocoa Research institute of Nigeria, CRIN, PMB 5244, Idi-Ayunre, Ibadan jaruefon@yahoo.com

2 Introduction Cacao as a high-valued commodity crop origin in the Amazonian forest as an under-storey plant. Attainment of a crop status made its cultivation spread to many tropical regions of the world with West Africa sub-region accounting about 70% of global production. Traditionally monoculture cacao is not common in Nigeria Arrays of timber, treecrops, fruit crops, and nonetimber forest products (NTFPs) are deliberately retained or planted by farmers.

3 Importance of intercropping sources of income, food, construction, medicine, nutrients, cultural needs Environmental services. Guide against crop failure

4 Arrangement on the field These intercrops are haphazardly included in cacao plantations No scientific evaluation of the systems.

5 Why agroforestry? land scarcity for new planting. Currently there is over 600,000ha of cacao plantations in Nigeria Ages of plantation over 50 years sustained by the overstorey of timbers and tree crops Ensure crops and products diversification

6 Need for prioritization Prioritizing the choice crops, timber species and NFTPs in the systems across cacao ecologies in Nigeria becomes imperative.

7 Earlier research efforts in cacao diversification Cacao/oilpalm Intercropping with varying geometry of avenue and hollow square Cacao/kola intercropping Cacao/kola/citrus Cacao/foodcrops(cassava,yam,c owpea,cocoyam,plantain)

8 Farmers practices Earlier survey by Asare(2005) revealed some forest tree, NTFPs inclusion in cacao cropping systems in Ghana,Nigeria, cote Divoire Cameroon Survey by Oloyede et al confirms agroforestry practices.

9 A typical cacao agroforest in Osun State Nigeria

10 Table 1:Some Identified forest trees and none timber species in cocoa plantation in Cross River State S/N Species Common name Scientific name Local name Uses Type of species 1 Bush mango Irvingia gabonensi s Ogbono/oro Condiment and sale 2 Sweet orange Citrus sinensis Orange Consumption and sale 3 Oilpalm Elaeis guinensis 4 Bush pear Dacryodes edulis 5 Sand paper tree Ficus exasperat a 6 Mango Mangifera indica 7 Newboudia Newboudia laeva Palm tree Ube Okpi/Ipin Nsang Efu-nfam/akoko 8 Coconut Cocos nucifera Mbangnkara/agbon Consumption and sale Consumption and sale Antitermite/firew ood Consumption and sale Boundary demarcation and chieftaincy Consumption and sale Fruit Fruit Palm Fruit Fruit

11 Table 1 Contn 10 Cotton tree Ceiba petandra Cotton tree Timber and medicinal 11 Boundary tree Newbouldia laevis Etu, peregun in yoruba Life boundary demarcation 12 Eti-nda Medicinal and antitheft 13 Antiaris Antiaris africana Oro in yoruba Timber species especially for furniture 14 Iroko Milicia excelsa Nsan, Iroko Timber species 15 African nutmeg Pycnanthus angolensi s (Welw.) Warb. 16 Guava Psidium guajava akomu in Yoruba.Mpan tiin Ikom Planted or retained for shade in coffee and cocoa plantations, Canoe making and medicinal 17 Star apple Chrysophyllum Agbalumo Timber and Fruit Fruit tree

12 Table 1 contn 18 Kola Cola nitida - Cash and traditional 19 Black afara Terminalia ivorensis 20 White afara Terminalia superba 21 Walnut Pluckennetia conophor a Fruit - Timber - Timber Nkat Climber Nut eaten and for sale 22 Raffia palm Raffia hookeri Wine 23 Cotton tree Ceiba petandra - Timber 24 Ficus Ficus exasperat e 25 Pycnanthus Pycnanthus angolensi s 26 Eti-Nda Yet to be identified Okpi Firewood Npanti Plywood Eti-Nda For protection against pilfering on farm

13 Table 1 contn 27 Albizia Albizia Sp Atare Timber,Fuel wood and permanent shade 28 Avocado Persia americana 29 Black pepper Piper guinensis - Fruit Fruit tree - Condiment and for sale 30 Red acalypas - Marking point of transplanted cacao Source: Field Survey (2014) Climber Horticultura l plant

14 Table 2: Some Identified forest trees and none timber species in cocoa plantation in Ondo State,Nigeria S/N Species Common name Scientific name Local name Uses Type of species 1 Iroko Milicia excelsa Iroko Timber 2 Ficus Ficus sp Ipin Fuelwood 3 Celtis Celtis zenkeri Ita Timber 4 Kola Cola nitida Obi Cashcrop 5 Bush butter Dacryodis edulis Ube Food and cash Fruit tree 6 Orange Citrus sinensis Osan Food and cash Fruit tree 7 Wild cola Cola gigantia Ogbungbun Timber 8 Palm tree Elaeis guineensis Ope Food and cash Palm 9 Albizia Albizia zigia Ayunre Timber,shade 10 Black afara Terminalia ivonrensis Idigbo Timber,shade

15 Table2 Contn 11 White afara Gmelina arborea 12 Gliricidia Gliricidia sepium 13 Obeche Triplochito n scleroxylon 14 False iroko Antiaris africana 15 Newbouldi a Newbouldi a laevis 16 Mango Mangifera indica 17 Avocado Persea americana 18 Guava Psium guajava Source: Field survey (2014) Igi isana Timber,Shade Agunmaniy e Arere Fertilizer,fuel,foreag e Timber,matches,leaf as vegetable Oro Timber Akoko Boundary plant,timber mangoro Fruit Pear Food and cash Fruit Guava Fruit andcash Fruit tree

16 Factors to be considered in selecting shade plants for cocoa provide good overhead shade within a short time(50% light infiltration optimal for cacao) should not compete with cacao for water and soil nutrients should be easy to remove when no longer needed should not serve as alternate hosts to pests should be of commercial value The selection process should be participatory

17 Agroforestry and cacao soils The presence of trees in the ecosystem can influence the nutrient content of the soil through its influence on soil structure, biological activities and nutrient recycling. The deep root of the trees can tap nutrients from the deep down the soil profile where crop roots cannot reach and are brought to the surface for the use of the intercrops.

18 Some identified fertilizer plants Acacia albida;acioa barteri;albizia sp;alchornia cordifolia;anthonotha macrophilla;cajanus cajan;calliandra Sp;Flemingia congesta ;Gliricidia sepium;grevillea robusta;leucaena leucocephala;sesbania sesban;tephrosia Sp among others Hugues and Philippes(1998).

19 Need for better shade Some of these species have been used in foodcrop production through alley cropping. Now that survival of established cacao is getting reduced due largely to the inadequacy of recommended plantain as shade crop as a result of climate change, alternatives have to be sort in some of the above listed species for improved cacao establishment.

20 Some vital research questions Are trees necessary in cacao plantations? Are the trees beneficial to the growth and yield of cacao? What are the priority forest trees and NFTPs in cacao plantations? Is monocropped cacao acceptable among cacao farmers? Is phenomenon of alleplopathy noticeable in cacao plantations? Is cacao agroforestry sustainable? Have we identified desirable and undesirable trees in cacao plantations in Nigeria as obtainable in some other West African countries like Ghana?

21 Some vital research questions Should we expand cacao cultivation to the remaining forest reserve to increase production? Can we propagate these timber and none timber species for inclusion in cacao farming systems? At what densities should they be planted? Are there ready markets for the integrated fruit trees in cacao agroforest? Can agroforestry improve farmers livelihood?

22 Answers Are trees necessary in cacao plantations?yes,by what we see in Tables 1&2 Are the trees beneficial to the growth and yield of cacao? Yes and No in Nigeria as desirability and oherwise have not been determined What are the priority forest trees and NFTPs in cacao plantations? All species are useful one way or the other but there is the need for prioritization Is monocropped cacao acceptable among cacao farmers in Nigeria? No,as land is limiting and traditional farming system does not believe in single crop. Is phenomenon of alleplopathy noticeable in cacao plantations? Is cacao agroforestry sustainable? Not yet verivied and research urgently needed Have we identified desirable and undesirable trees in cacao plantations in Nigeria as obtainable in some other West African countries like Ghana? Partially but only in few locations

23 Answers contn Should we expand cacao cultivation to the remaining forest reserve to increase production? No, as the available land can be maximized in view of global climate change. Can we propagate these timber and none timber species for inclusion in cacao farming systems? Yes by training cacao farmers and establishment of community nurseries At what densities should they be planted?yet to be determined Are there ready markets for the integrated fruit trees in cacao agroforest? Yes but there are room for improvement Can agroforestry improve farmers livelihood? Yes, because of product diversification and consequently income of farmers

24 Closing remarks Integration,diversification,propagati on,planting densties are very important in developing sustainable cacao farming systems,the stakeholder here present should have identified cacao agroforestry to improve livelihood as in the words of Akoroda(2016) $0.68 on cocoa alone cannot take the farmers home.

25 Thanks for your rapt attention