As part of the Cocoa & Forests Initiative, Cargill supports sustainable cocoa production by promoting agroforestry and forest restoration in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.
Now in its sixth year as a CFI member, Cargill shares its progress toward ending deforestation and building more resilient cocoa landscapes. One of the stories that brings this work to life is that of Damoue Boureima, a cocoa farmer in Côte d’Ivoire who joined an agroforestry program through his cooperative. His experience shows how planting shade and protective trees helps farmers adapt to climate challenges, improve yields over time, and protect their land for future generations.
I came to Côte d’Ivoire from Burkina Faso in 1983. When I arrived here, it was all forest everywhere, with many animals. I started to build my life here as a cocoa farmer on a two-hectare plot.
Five years later, I was able to harvest for the first time, with success. There were still forests all around our fields at that time. I was producing up to five tons on my two hectares of plantation.
After a while, I started to realize that my cocoa was not as good as before. The sun has become stronger and when the rains fall, they fall very hard on a soil that has become very dry because of the sun. I think it was little by little that I realized.
We have been talking about the climate between planters for years. The climate is what regulates our crops. I see today that where there are still trees, cocoa trees give better... So when the agroforestry program started in the co-op, I volunteered immediately. I thought that I had not done this work all my life to leave nothing for my children and grandchildren.
We gathered all the volunteer planters to talk a little bit about this program, to make us aware of the importance of trees because they were shading our cocoa trees and because the big trees protected our cocoa trees from diseases. This phase of explanation made us all want to participate in the program and replant trees.
Last year, 2024, came a very big drought as I have never seen here before, and my production decreased. Today, I produce 3 tons on 8 hectares. I know that it is not normal, and it will take time for things to change. We have no choice today but to plant trees and see them grow for our children.
Sylvain is my coach; he has been helping me in my farm for a few years and he is responsible for following the growing of my trees. He came to me, and I showed him where I had planted all my trees. He checks if I clear the land well, so that my trees can grow quietly. At my age, I no longer have big needs. All I want to do is restore the forest.
