IITA
Latest:
  • Planting, replanting and tree diversification in cocoa systems
    In order to help farmers intensify cocoa farms through best agronomic practices, STCP in consultations with the Cocoa Research Institutes across West Africa initiated a process to develop a comprehensive manual that provides technical guidance for farmers to establish and maintain cocoa farms using recommended guidelines. The result of this is the planting, replanting and diversification (PRD) manual. [Download manual - guide]

  • STCP Newsletter Nov 2009 - Jan 2010
    In this edition, "STCP strengthens its research agenda".
  • Child Labour (on Cocoa farms) revisited
    In the face of misinterpretations of the 2001/2002 findings published on-line by IITA on the use of child labor in the cocoa sector of West Africa it is necessary to re-examine in detail the empirical findings of that study... Please read further.

  • Preventing and reducing injuries and ill health in Cocoa Production
    [Download Manual]

  • Biodiversity Conservation Manual
    This manual on biodiversity and wildlife conservation in cocoa landscapes near protected areas aims at improving farmers’ knowledge on biodiversity and wildlife conservation in order to strengthen their decision making capacity. It helps farmers to understand the importance of biodiversity and wildlife conservation; understand their role as ecosystem managers; develop strategies for mitigating human-wildlife conflict; understand the national laws on biodiversity conservation and; develop an appreciation of the economic and conservation value of cocoa agroforests.
Current News
coffee, cocoa and cashews
US delegation to Ghana visits a
cocoa farm
Dr. Keiichi Takaki (Foundation for Advanced Studies on Int’nal Dev.) interacts with cocoa farmers in Ghana

The Sustainable Tree Crops Program (STCP) started in 2000. It is a public-private partnership and innovation platform that seeks to generate growth in rural income among tree crop farmers in an environmentally and socially responsible manner in West/Central Africa.  This is achieved by introducing innovations to enhance productivity, increase marketing efficiency, diversify farmer income, and strengthen the institutional and policy environment. STCP, which is managed by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), provides a framework for collaboration between farmers, the global cocoa industry, local private sector, national governments, NGOs, research institutes, and development investors.

STCP/IITA Impact & Policy Analyst addresses cocoa sector stakeholders in a policy dialogue

STCP's mission is to...

"improve the economic and social well being of tree crop farmers and their communities, and the environmental sustainability of their systems in West and Central Africa.”

The STCP Program has completed its pilot phase and has initiated a new 5-year program. The present phase will be building on past experiences and knowledge on various extension approaches and farmer group settings to improve the cocoa sector while achieving STCP’s mission. The program is presently active in 5 countries—Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia and Nigeria.  STCP currently operates within 5 core strategic results principles:

  • Enhanced productivity of cocoa farms through intensification
  • Enhanced marketing efficiency in the cocoa sector
  • Income alternatives in cocoa farming communities and agro-ecologies for equitable growth
  • Improved policy environment to enable rural transformation in cocoa communities and agro-ecologies
  • Scaling out of core program knowledge and expertise to tree crops and  other agro-ecologies

For more on STCP’s new 5-year program, download the following:

Core Program Synopsis (Five-Year New Phase Program)
STCP Analysis Rural Cocoa Economies - Summary


The STCP Regional Program Office is located at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture's (IITA) Humid Forest Ecoregional Center in Yaoundé, Cameroon. To learn more, contact STCP-wca@cgiar.org

Last Updated - April 20, 2009 Please contact webmaster@treecrops.org with questions.