admin | July 17, 2026
Cocoa was originally grown under rainforest conditions, where rainfall is high with only a short dry season. But cocoa plants can tolerate longer dry periods of 3 to 4 months under balanced agroforestry conditions. Shade is generally helpful for cocoa plants. Fast-growing trees that will rapidly provide cover, such as bananas, pawpaw, or castor oil trees, should be planted before cocoa is planted. If the area had any natural growth, some trees should be left standing during land preparation.
In general, several crops can be combined or planted together with cocoa on the same day:
- Pioneers (with a growing period of several months): Maize, sorghum, bans, rice, sweet potato, or ginger
- Secondary (up to 2 years): pigeon pea, cassava
- Secondary (up to 5 years): pineapple, papaya
- Secondary (up to 10 years): bananas, oranges
- Primary trees (more than 10 years): timber trees, fruit trees, cocoa trees.
Learn more about good cocoa planting techniques, including agroforestry. https://www.accessagriculture.org/sites/default/files/2025-12/FiBL%20African%20Organic%20Agriculture%20-%20Cocoa.pdf
Seeds of forest trees often cannot germinate, even when the conditions are favourable. Setting up a forest seedling nursery is essential to have healthy trees and shrubs. Watch this video about establishing a forest seedling nursery. https://www.accessagriculture.org/establishing-forest-seedling-nursery
This video is available in English, French, Bambara, Moore, Peulh/Pulaar, Serer, and Wolof
And read Farm Radio’s backgrounder on increasing sustainability in the cocoa value chain through locally-adapted climate-smart practices: https://scripts.farmradio.fm/radio-script/backgrounder-increasing-sustainability-cocoa-value-chain-locally-adapted-climate-smart-practices/
Photo credit: Eric Freyssinge