LASCARCOCO: Sustainable Agroforestry for Cocoa and Coffee Smallholders

The agriculture sector is one of the primary drivers of Indonesia’s steady economic growth. Cocoa and coffee are important export commodities that contribute to Indonesia’s economy and the livelihoods of more than four million smallholder farmers and their families. However, climate change presents a significant threat to agricultural businesses and farmer livelihoods as well as to vulnerable populations, including women and indigenous groups. Furthermore, unsustainable agricultural practices in Indonesia that drive land-use change, deforestation, and forest degradation are significant sources of carbon emissions.

A climate-smart agroforestry system is key to protecting cocoa and coffee landscapes, addressing and mitigating climate change risks, increasing farmer productivity and competitiveness, and improving cocoa and coffee farmer resilience and livelihoods.

USAID Landscape Approach to Sustainable and Climate Change Resilient Cocoa and Coffee Agroforestry (LASCARCOCO)

Through LASCARCOCO, a partnership with Olam Food Ingredients (ofi), Rikolto, Hershey’s, and the
Government of Indonesia, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) promotes sustainable cocoa and coffee agroforestry practices that address climate change mitigation and adaptation, while improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Specifically, LASCARCOCO aims to improve environmental sustainability through agroforestry practices in cocoa and coffee producing landscapes, and improve the welfare of rural communities through increased market access and climate change resilience.

LASCARCOCO will follow a landscape approach to sustainable cocoa and coffee production and climate change resilient practices in Tanah Karo and Simalungun Districts in North Sumatra Province, Luwu Utara District in South Sulawesi Province, and Ngada and Manggarai Districts in East Nusa Tenggara Province. The LASCARCOCO partnership will implement activities to (i) improve sustainable livelihoods, (ii) establish sustainable supply chains, and (iii) promote sustainable landscape management practices and multi-stakeholder governance.

Anticipated Results

Through LASCARCOCO, USAID will train 5,500 cocoa farmers and 1,000 coffee farmers on sustainable agroforestry practices, improve the management of 15,000 hectares of watershed and buffer vegetation surrounding cocoa and coffee landscapes, and reduce or sequester 250,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂ e).