[ Valeur économique des produits issus des espèces associées dans les agroforêts à base de cacaoyers du Centre de la Côte d’Ivoire ]
Kossonou Affia Sonmia Francia1, Kouadio Venance-Pâques Gniayou2, Kanga Justin KOUASSI3, and Constant Yves ADOU YAO4
1 Faculty of Agroforestry, Jean Lorougnon Guédé University (UJLoG), Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire
2 Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Péléforo Gon Coulibaly University (UPGC), Korhogo, Côte d’Ivoire
3 Université Jean Lorougnon Guédé, UFR Agroforesterie, BP 150 Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire
4 Laboratoire de Botanique, UFR Biosciences, Université Félix Houphouet-Boigny, Côte d’Ivoire
Original language: French
Copyright © 2026 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
The lack of systematic data to assess the role of associated species in cocoa agroforests in improving household living conditions is an obstacle to their promotion. Our study provides the first comprehensive analysis in Côte d’Ivoire of the contribution of cocoa-based agroforests to the economy of cocoa-bean-producing households. Our findings show that the average weekly income of female traders ranges from 620 CFA francs for taro to 25,800 CFA francs for plantains in young cocoa plantations, while it ranges from 630 CFA francs for mangoes to 12,800 CFA francs for avocados in mature cocoa plantations. More than 55% of the female traders surveyed say they are very satisfied, compared to 20.95% who say they are not satisfied with their profits. Additionally, the women highlighted difficulties related to road infrastructure, the purchase prices paid by wholesalers, the management of unsold inventory, and product availability, which hinder the normal development of the sector for products derived from crops associated with cocoa. With income from sales, wives share household expenses with their husbands, and female heads of households provide for their families. This contribution to household expenses allows them to participate in family decision-making. Domesticating the most profitable companion species will enable women to become more financially independent and improve their households’ living conditions.
Author Keywords: source of income, women, companion species, cocoa agroforests, Ivory Coast.
Kossonou Affia Sonmia Francia1, Kouadio Venance-Pâques Gniayou2, Kanga Justin KOUASSI3, and Constant Yves ADOU YAO4
1 Faculty of Agroforestry, Jean Lorougnon Guédé University (UJLoG), Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire
2 Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Péléforo Gon Coulibaly University (UPGC), Korhogo, Côte d’Ivoire
3 Université Jean Lorougnon Guédé, UFR Agroforesterie, BP 150 Daloa, Côte d’Ivoire
4 Laboratoire de Botanique, UFR Biosciences, Université Félix Houphouet-Boigny, Côte d’Ivoire
Original language: French
Copyright © 2026 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
The lack of systematic data to assess the role of associated species in cocoa agroforests in improving household living conditions is an obstacle to their promotion. Our study provides the first comprehensive analysis in Côte d’Ivoire of the contribution of cocoa-based agroforests to the economy of cocoa-bean-producing households. Our findings show that the average weekly income of female traders ranges from 620 CFA francs for taro to 25,800 CFA francs for plantains in young cocoa plantations, while it ranges from 630 CFA francs for mangoes to 12,800 CFA francs for avocados in mature cocoa plantations. More than 55% of the female traders surveyed say they are very satisfied, compared to 20.95% who say they are not satisfied with their profits. Additionally, the women highlighted difficulties related to road infrastructure, the purchase prices paid by wholesalers, the management of unsold inventory, and product availability, which hinder the normal development of the sector for products derived from crops associated with cocoa. With income from sales, wives share household expenses with their husbands, and female heads of households provide for their families. This contribution to household expenses allows them to participate in family decision-making. Domesticating the most profitable companion species will enable women to become more financially independent and improve their households’ living conditions.
Author Keywords: source of income, women, companion species, cocoa agroforests, Ivory Coast.
Abstract: (french)
Le manque d’information systématique permettant d’évaluer l’importance des espèces associées dans les agroforêts à cacaoyers à l’amélioration des conditions de vie des ménages est un obstacle à leur promotion. Notre étude analyse de manière globale et pour la première fois en Côte d’Ivoire, la contribution des agroforêts à base de cacaoyers sur l’économie des ménages producteurs de fèves de cacao. Il ressort de nos travaux que les revenus moyens hebdomadaires des commerçantes varient de 620 francs CFA pour le taro à 25 800 francs CFA pour la banane plantain pour les jeunes cacaoyères tandis qu’ils varient de 630 francs CFA pour la mangue à 12 800 FCFA pour l’avocat dans les cacaoyères matures. Plus de 55 % des commerçantes interrogées se disent très satisfaites contre 20,95 % qui affirment ne pas être satisfaites de leurs bénéfices. Aussi, les femmes ont relevé des difficultés liées aux infrastructures routières, au prix d’achat des produits par les grossistes, de gestion des invendus et la disponibilité des produits qui freinent le développement normal du secteur des produits issus des espèces associées aux cacaoyers. Des revenus tirés de la vente, les épouses partagent avec leurs maris les charges familiales et les femmes chefs de ménages subviennent aux besoins de leur familles. Cette participation aux charges du ménages leurs permettent de prendre part aux décisions de la famille. Une domestication des espèces associées rapportant le plus de revenus permettrai aux femmes d’être plus autonomes financièrement et améliorer les conditions de vie de leurs ménages.
Author Keywords: source de revenus, femmes, espèces associées, agroforêts à cacaoyers, Côte d’Ivoire.
