Cameroon is targeting a cocoa production increase to 640,000 tonnes by 2030 while protecting its forests, officials said, highlighting a model of sustainable agriculture that combines farm intensification with environmental preservation.
The Cocoa and Coffee Development Fund (FODECC) is leading the initiative by mapping nearly 400,000 agricultural plots to ensure zero encroachment on protected woodland in the Congo Basin. The program focuses on intensifying production on existing farmland rather than clearing forested areas, demonstrating that crop expansion can coexist with climate commitments.
On February 4, a delegation from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) visited FODECC headquarters in Yaoundé to study the fund’s sustainable financing model. The agency’s mission leader for nature conservation in the Congo Basin said the visit sought lessons from FODECC’s experience with sustainable cocoa challenges, structural partnerships, and international cooperation dynamics. JICA aims to apply these insights to its upcoming landscape restoration initiative, which focuses on climate change mitigation and adaptation across agriculture, forestry, and land use sectors.
FODECC officials highlighted the fund’s collaboration with international organizations, including the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI), and its participation in IMF-backed climate financing discussions. The agency has launched the Pilot Project for Sustainable Intensification and Agroecological Transition (PAIDATA), which supports cocoa and coffee production while preserving forest ecosystems.
To comply with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), FODECC has implemented a comprehensive geolocation and traceability program. The initiative has registered 360,000 producers and mapped nearly 400,000 plots, with plans to reach 500,000 producers and plots by the end of 2026. Agricultural plot data is overlaid with classified forest maps in partnership with the Technical Centre for Forestry and Cooperation (CTFC) to guarantee that cocoa cultivation does not encroach on permanent forest areas.
Mapping exercises have revealed that current cocoa plantations are under-dense, averaging 600 trees per hectare compared to the recommended 1,100. FODECC has identified redensification as a key strategy to increase yields without expanding cultivated land. The fund is also promoting research and grafting techniques to regenerate aging orchards and improve resistance to pests and diseases.
The initiatives already show early results. In the most recent cocoa season, Cameroon added an estimated 17,000 tonnes to its production. FODECC officials said these measures will contribute significantly to achieving the national target of 640,000 tonnes by 2030, aligning agricultural expansion with environmental sustainability and international climate commitments.
Cameroon’s approach is seen as a model for other cocoa-producing nations navigating stricter global environmental standards. By intensifying production on existing farmland and combining it with monitoring and financing innovations, developing countries can increase agricultural output while protecting vital forest ecosystems.
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Experts said the program also enhances access to global markets, as buyers increasingly demand compliance with sustainability standards. International partnerships with organizations such as JICA and CAFI are seen as crucial in scaling best practices and providing technical and financial support.
FODECC’s strategy underscores a broader trend in Africa, where governments are seeking to balance agricultural growth, climate action, and economic development. By demonstrating that higher production can be achieved without deforestation, Cameroon aims to safeguard its forests, strengthen rural livelihoods, and remain competitive in the global cocoa market.
“Cameroon’s sustainable cocoa model shows that agricultural intensification and environmental preservation can go hand in hand,” a FODECC spokesperson said. “We hope this approach inspires other countries to adopt similar frameworks that meet production targets while protecting our natural heritage.”
