The rise of the "agroforestry entrepreneur"
Across Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and beyond, young people are rewriting the cocoa narrative. They’re not just farmers, they’re entrepreneurs, environmental stewards, and digital pioneers. They see cocoa farms as diverse agroforestry ecosystems, not monocultures. By integrating shade trees, fruit crops, medicinal plants, and even beekeeping, they’re creating farms that are more resilient to climate shocks and financially diverse. Take, for example, youth-led cooperatives in Ghana now experimenting with intercropping cocoa with moringa and black pepper. Not only do these additional crops provide extra income, but they also improve soil health and attract pollinators. How technology is reshaping cocoa The modern cocoa farmer’s toolkit is getting a serious upgrade. Here’s how youth are leading the charge: Drone mapping & farm monitoring: Drones and satellite imagery are helping young farmers map farm boundaries, analyse shade cover, and spot disease o...