Teractiv Cacao as a New Fertilizer based Reactive Phosphate Rock for Cocoa Productivity in Côte d’Ivoire: A Participatory Approach to Update Fertilization Recommendation

Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) is a strategic product for Côte d’Ivoire. This country is the world leader producer with aver 40% of world volume production. This production is obtained on 6% of the country's area by the work of 5 million farmers and the members of their family. Cocoa contributes to 30% of export earnings and 15% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). These economic parameters show the importance of cocoa for Côte d’Ivoire. Despite some remarkable performance, in cocoa growing systems, there are many constraints for cocoa productivity and sustainability. Particularly, in acid strongly P-sorbing soils of Côte d’Ivoire, P is among the nutrients that most limits cocoa production. For the success of cocoa planting, application of P to soils is one solution to ensure cacao growth and productivity. However, the current recommendations of fertilization based on the use of the fertilizer 0 N. 23 P2O5.19 K2O + 10 CaO + 5MgO is not adapted in a context of deteriorating soil fertility. Improving the productivity of cocoa in Côte d’Ivoire therefore requires to update the fertilizer recommendations. In this context, the National Agronomic Research Center (CNRA, Côte d’Ivoire) conducts research-development in collaboration with the company Mars Inc. and Office Chérifien of Phosphates (OCP, Morocco), in order to test and validate a new fertilizer called Teractiv Cacao (0% N. 15% P2O5. 14% K2O + 28% CaO + 5,5% S + 2,5% MgO + 0,9% Zn + 0,24% B2O3). This new fertilizer includes natural tender phosphate (Reactive Phosphate Rock, RPR) in its composition, which makes it reduces the cost of purchase for cocoa producers and optimizes phosphate fertility of soils in cocoa growing systems. In its implementation, the research-development project adopted a participatory approach. Trials are conducted in three main cocoa regions in Côte d’Ivoire, including CNRA research stations Divo (Central - West) and Abengourou (East), as well as cocoa farmers areas in Soubré (South West). Ultimately, this project will contribute to the updating of fertilizer forms and doses in order to improve cocoa productivity in Côte d’Ivoire.