%0 Journal Article
%T Socioeconomic Analysis of Rainforest Alliance-Certified Cocoa Agroforestry Systems and Producer Behavior Facing the Cocoa Price Boom: Evidence from Haut-Nkam and Nd¨¦ Departments, West Cameroon
%A Salim Ali Ahmed Ngnemadon
%A Arnold Billy Tschoung&#8217
%A e Fokou
%A Mukete Ngoe
%A Ali Rajatou La&#239
%A la Houmdie
%J Open Access Library Journal
%V 13
%N 6
%P 1-14
%@ 2333-9721
%D 2026
%I Open Access Library
%R 10.4236/oalib.1115464
%X Against the backdrop of a global cocoa price boom (from 1000 to 6100 FCFA/kg between May 2022 and April 2024) and the rapid expansion of sustainable certification (41% of Cameroonian production certified in 2021-2022), this study assesses the socioeconomic effects of Rainforest Alliance (RA) certification on cocoa agroforestry systems in West Cameroon and describes producer behavioural responses to the exceptional price environment. Based on a sample of 105 producers (26 certified, 79 non-certified) surveyed in the subdivisions of Bagangt¨¦ and Tonga (Nd¨¦ Department) and Kekem (Haut-Nkam Department), the study applies cost-benefit analysis, discounted profitability criteria (NPV, BCR, payback period), and binary logistic regression. Certified producers incur significantly higher total costs (319,114 vs 236,491 FCFA/ha, <i>p</i> < 0.01) but generate substantially greater revenues (2,494,436 vs 1,425,983 FCFA/ha in 2023/24, <i>p</i> < 0.001). The certified system outperforms on all three financial criteria: NPV (1,738,918 vs 847,851 FCFA/ha; +105%), BCR (6.44 vs 4.58), and payback period (1 year vs 1 year 8 months). The logistic model identifies land access (Exp(B) = 5.63; <i>p</i> < 0.01), training on cocoa production (Exp(B) = 6.47; <i>p</i> < 0.05), and cooperative membership (Exp(B) = 7.77; <i>p</i> < 0.10) as significant determinants of certification adoption. The price elasticity of supply is extremely low (<i>¦Å</i> = 0.04), confirming the structural inelasticity of cocoa production. Facing the price surge, 96.2% of producers upgraded their equipment and inputs, 86.7% diversified their crops, and 75.2% expanded their cultivated area. The study recommends establishing a meaningful certified-conventional price differential, strengthening participatory training, and improving land tenure security for non-certified producers.
%K Rainforest Alliance Certification
%K Cocoa Agroforestry
%K Financial Profitability
%K Binary Logistic Regression
%K Price Elasticity of Supply
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=151871