Enhancing food Security through Agroforestry: A Case Study in Petit-Bondoukou, Nawa Region, Côte d'Ivoire

Ensuring food security in tropical regions presents significant challenges due to the competition between cash crop cultivation and food crop production. This study focuses on Petit-Bondoukou, a key cocoa-producing zone in Côte d'Ivoire, investigating food diets and evaluating the potential of agroforestry systems to mitigate food insecurity. All cocoa farmers engage in agroforestry as a national strategy to combat cocoa swollen shoot disease through diversification. Three distinct agroforestry systems, involving various plant associations, were implemented by cocoa farmers. The research compared households practicing agroforestry with those not practicing it. The surveyed households commonly consumed cooked and processed roots, tubers, cereals, vegetables, meat, and pulses. Notably, pounded yam with okra sauce exhibited the highest dry matter content (94.66%), while guava and pounded yam with palm nut sauce displayed acidic pH values (4.13 and 4.61, respectively). Nutritional analyses revealed distinct attributes; rice and eggplant sauce had the lowest lipid content (2.90%), whereas rice with peanut sauce provided the highest protein rate (16.16%). Apart from fruits, all foods exceeded the recommended daily energy intake. Households practicing agroforestry relied on their farms for roots, tubers, and cereals, reducing the need to purchase food. Among households not practicing agroforestry, 80% experienced food shortages, compared to only 35% of households practicing agroforestry. Households practicing agroforestry had a higher intake of meat and pulses, with these pulses primarily sourced from their farms. Additionally, households practicing agroforestry exhibited higher consumption of vegetables. A higher percentage of households practicing agroforestry (78.6%) were identified as food secure compared to households not practicing agroforestry (38.9%). Moreover, households practicing agroforestry exhibited superior food consumption scores. This research provides insights into the role of agroforestry in enhancing food security in tropical regions.