Crops we work with
Anacardium occidentale
Bringing Dynamic Agroforestry to cashew — new plantations and ageing orchards alike — for higher yields from year one, healthier soils, and food and income for farmers on the edge of the Sahel.
Across West Africa, ageing cashew monocultures are losing productivity as soils degrade and the climate dries. ECOTOP works with farmers both to establish new cashew agroforestry and to convert ageing plantations into Dynamic Agroforestry — dense, multi-layered systems that rebuild the soil and lift cashew productivity.
In the Bobo-Dioulasso region of Burkina Faso, on the edge of the Sahel, we converted 482 unproductive plantations (15 to 30 years old) into DAF: 16 planted tree species alongside more than 20 that regenerate naturally, intercropped with food crops, and old cashew rejuvenated by strong biomass pruning that mulches the soil.
From a first assessment to farmer-led systems that scale on their own — a proven, hands-on path, adapted to cashew.
We assess ageing plantations, soils and climate, and run an introductory Dynamic Agroforestry workshop with farmers and cooperatives.
We design the system for new cashew plantations or existing plots, interplanting diverse trees and food crops. Ageing cashew is rejuvenated with strong biomass pruning.
Recurring hands-on training in pruning, mulching, soil cover and managing the natural regeneration that drives the system.
Lead farmers, cooperative-run nurseries and visual field tools let farmers replicate and scale Dynamic Agroforestry themselves — village to village.
The study focused on cashew that was already 15 to 30 years old and barely producing. Rather than replanting, Dynamic Agroforestry rejuvenates the existing trees and rebuilds a living system around them.
In 14 controlled paired plots, DAF yields rose from 383 to 654 kg/ha between 2022 and 2024, while conventional plots barely moved (266 to 337 kg/ha) — a mean uplift of +67%, and +94% by the third year. Across 482 farmer plots the pattern held, at +29% on average. Tree health improved too: in more than 95% of DAF plots the cashew trees grew better than in neighbouring conventional orchards, with no sick trees reported.
DAF lifts cashew productivity immediately and keeps widening the gap over conventional plots.
Intercropped food crops and diverse trees add harvests and revenue alongside the cashew.
Biomass cycling and continuous soil cover rebuild fertility and buffer Sahelian climate stress.
The system runs on its own biomass — lower costs, and fully farmer-led.
“Made in Africa” — converting cashew and mango plantations to Dynamic Agroforestry across 11 villages in Burkina Faso: 120.5 ha and 1,800+ farmers.
Delivered with gebana and HALBA and co-funded by the Coop Sustainability Fund. ECOTOP led system design and continuous advisory support.
Results were presented at the 2025 World Agroforestry Congress, with yield differences statistically highly significant (p < 0.0001).
Research · 10 min
A long-term trial shows agroforestry can match conventional yields with far greater resilience.
Article · 6 min
Why diverse, managed systems out-yield single-crop maximization.
Article · 6 min
How Dynamic Agroforestry stores carbon and rebuilds landscapes.
ECOTOP works with buyers, traders and cooperatives to bring Dynamic Agroforestry to cashew origins in West Africa and beyond. Let’s talk about your supply.
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