This project supports cocoa producers in the Dominican Republic in improving productivity, farm income, and climate resilience through dynamic agroforestry systems.
The project combines the establishment of new agroforestry systems with targeted management improvements in existing cocoa plantations, including canopy management, pruning, and renovation of aging cocoa trees.
Cocoa production in the Dominican Republic is increasingly affected by aging plantations, insufficient technical support, and growing climate stress.
The project aims to address these challenges by adopting dynamic agroforestry systems (DAF) that improve soil fertility, regulate microclimate conditions, and increase the economic viability of cocoa farms.
At the same time, the project builds local technical capacity to ensure long-term system management beyond the project duration.
The project focuses on four core interventions:
• Establishment of dynamic agroforestry systems on former pasture land
• High-canopy pruning of shade and fruit trees in existing cocoa systems
• Training and deployment of local pruning teams
• Renovation of old and unproductive cocoa plantations through grafting with locally selected material
