It is a striking paradox: the women and men cultivating two of the world’s most traded and consumed products, cocoa and coffee, all too often face seasonal food shortages, limited dietary diversity, and poor access to fresh, nutritious foods.
In cocoa and coffee landscapes, these challenges are deeply rooted in the structure of farming systems and rural economies, and in the global market dynamics that shape them and that concentrate value and decision-making power far from the farm. Predominantly monoculture systems prioritise cash crops over food production, leaving families reliant on market purchases in areas where food availability and affordability are inconsistent. 50% or more of farmer families’ income goes to food.1 Add to that low incomes, climate shocks, and inadequate public services, and food insecurity is just around the corner. In Western Honduras, for instance, up to 50% of coffee smallholders face food insecurity.2 And in Ghana’s Ashanti and Bono East regions, studies revealed that up to 64% of cocoa farmers face modest or severe food insecurity.3 It comes as no surprise that female-headed households are found to be more vulnerable than male-headed households.4
But there is another way forward for local food systems: diversified farms, that integrate a variety of crops, livestock and other income generating activities alongside cocoa or coffee. They can enhance resilience at multiple levels: ecologically (through improved soil health and biodiversity), economically (by reducing dependence on a single crop), and nutritionally (by increasing access to diverse, locally produced foods).
In 2024, we supported 15,178 cocoa and coffee farmers to improve their access to food through more diversified production systems. Curious about the potential of diversified farming systems for food security, diverse diets and resilience? Read along.
In Indonesia, we investigated dietary patterns, nutrition intake, and affordability of food for cocoa and coffee farmers we work with, as part of a research from a master’s student from Ghent University. The study analysed food consumption across different regions, using the Cost of the Diet methodology to determine the lowest-cost diet that meets nutrient requirements.
The study confirmed that many farming households struggled to afford a nutritionally adequate diet: they are highly dependent on staple foods, and protein and micronutrient intake is limited. Household food expenditure accounts for over 50% of total income, making dietary improvements challenging. Yet, diversification through home gardening and alternative protein sources, such as legumes and fish, was found to be a viable solution to improve nutrition.
At the same time, we did a Living Income Study, which had as one of its findings that farmers who diversified their income sources, such as through intercropping or non-farm employment, were more likely to approach or exceed the living income benchmark.
To build truly resilient farming communities, we must look beyond cocoa and coffee as crops towards the farming systems in which they are grown. Rikolto believes that this food systems approach holds the key for farmers to build up resilient livelihoods and enhance their food and nutrition security, as well as for building economically profitable, socially responsible and environmentally sound coffee and cocoa sectors.
Diversification is a cornerstone of our sustainable cocoa and coffee programme. While diversification often means integrating food crops or livestock into existing farms, in some contexts it also includes engaging in alternative income-generating activities, agricultural or not, that enable households to access a more varied and nutritious diet. Concretely, in our programmes, it can take the shape of:
How do we go about this? Guided by local contexts and needs, we work alongside farmer organisations and their members to identify and pursue diversification opportunities in their region. Our first step is always to support them in assessing the market potential of these opportunities, their possible contribution to local food and nutrition security, and whether they are feasible and scalable in the long term. The following examples from Ghana, DR Congo and Indonesia illustrate how this approach translates into action on the ground.
In Ghana, Rikolto supports farmers to develop income-generating activities (IGAs) that complement cocoa production, helping them invest in their farms and meet household needs. Using the Selection, Planning and Management (SPM) methodology, farmers identify viable IGAs and receive tailored training to manage them as businesses. The process is co-created with farmer groups, ensuring local ownership. For instance, a group that decided to launch a poultry business, invested in building a poultry house before receiving hatchlings and technical support.
With funding from SUCDEN and the Belgian Development Cooperation (DGD), we trained members of 23 newly formed Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) in business skills. As a result, 19 groups launched businesses including vegetable farming, poultry, and baking. Today, 480 people (226 men and 254 women) are actively involved in IGAs.
“We are excited for the VSLA poultry farm initiative in our community because it has not only improved our nutrition, but it has also created economic opportunities for us. I am a cocoa purchasing clerk and thanks to the poultry training, I now have my own poultry birds aside the group farm.”
Some initiatives are already yielding returns. In Adabokrom, one group sold its first harvest of okro (100 kg), cowpea (88 kg), and 428 cabbages, on nearby markets. In Suhum and Asamankese, two poultry groups have collected and sold 474 crates of eggs (11,376 eggs in total), earning GHS27,515 (EUR 1,688). These eggs are not only a source of income, they are also an affordable addition to local diets.
“Due to the establishment of the poultry farm, we now have access to fresh eggs and chicken because some of our members are rearing for meat. This has improved our nutrition and increased our access finance because we put profits made from the sale of eggs into the VSLA."
Eva Tetteh
VSLA chairperson, Sra community
In our coffee programmes in the DR Congo, diversified agroforestry systems have been a key part of our work for years, and have gathered even more importance in view of recent events. In Idjwi, South Kivu, 5,163 farmers (87% women) started producing bio-fortified beans (HM21-7) in the shade of coffee trees. Rikolto supported farmers in adopting regenerative practices and introduced a traceability-based marketing model led by women and young mothers to boost the value of bio-fortified beans. We facilitated the creation of a commercial brand and quality standards, enabling women to access better markets and earn more per kilogram sold. Through farmer cooperatives, village-based advisors, and certified seed multipliers, we strengthened the entire value chain, from production to nutrition-focused products like fortified flour. In 2024, 521 tonnes of beans were sold on the markets of Bukavu and Goma. As such, women play a key role in driving forward diversified agroforestry systems, and contributing to healthy local diets.
“Integrating bean cultivation under the shade of coffee trees in Idjwi has significantly increased women's participation in coffee farming, while also boosting household income and providing a reliable source of food in times of uncertainty.”
Bonnke Safari
Country Director in DR Congo
In 2024, in Indonesia we supported communal food security initiatives through partner cooperatives, promoting more diverse and balanced diets. In Polewali Mandar, the Mitra Agribisnis cooperative established five communal kitchen gardens across Luyo, Mapili, and Matanga sub-districts, managed by six Women Farmer Groups. Each group tends its own garden plot, rotating responsibilities to ensure shared ownership and participation. The district government contributed by supplying seedlings as part of its Sustainable Food (Pangan Lestari) programme. A similar initiative took place in Pongo village, North Luwu, through the Masagena cooperative.
Elsewhere, members of the KKBB (Kerinci), KCS (East Luwu), and SIKAP (Ende) cooperatives have turned backyard spaces into productive home gardens. In East Luwu, while the gardens are managed independently, 40 cooperative members (35 women and 5 men) coordinate input supply and harvests. In Kerinci and Ende, home gardens have reduced household food expenses by around 5%. While challenges such as limited space and pest pressure, particularly in Ende, affect yields of tomatoes and chillies, farmers are actively experimenting with new techniques and pest management strategies. As such, these home gardens are proving to be a vital source of fresh, affordable food for participating families.
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By integrating food crops, legumes, fruits, and small livestock into cocoa and coffee systems, farmers can build healthier soils, improve water retention, and create cooler, more humid microclimates that support crop productivity and climate adaptation. At the same time, growing a wider range of crops makes diverse, nutrient-rich foods more accessible at household level, while offering new income streams to reduce dependence on volatile cash crop markets.
One of the pitfalls in the pursuit of resilient farming communities is the overemphasis on export markets at the expense of local food systems. While cocoa and coffee will always have a place in global value chains, they must also be firmly rooted in the food systems that surround them. Diversification is a way to reconnect these crops with local needs, creating opportunities for better food access, healthier diets, and more sustainable landscapes.
Because yes, cocoa and coffee farms can do more than feeding export markets. They can, and should, nourish the communities that bring them to life.
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