Question

Read the passage below carefully and answer the question that follows.

For over half a century, monoculture cocoa cultivation has driven export earnings across several West African economies. By clearing native forest canopies to maximize sun exposure, farmers achieved immediate high yields. However, this intensive agricultural model has proved ecologically unsustainable over time. Continuous sun exposure degrades topsoil nutrients, accelerates water loss, and leaves cocoa trees highly vulnerable to extreme heat waves and emerging pest outbreaks.

In response to these climate vulnerabilities, agricultural scientists advocate a return to agroforestry—a practice wherein cocoa trees are cultivated beneath a protective canopy of indigenous shade trees. Shade trees regulate ambient microclimates, enhance soil organic matter through leaf litter, and foster natural biological pest control. Despite these clear ecological advantages, widespread adoption among smallholder farmers remains sluggish. Integrating shade trees reduces short-term crop density, which temporarily lowers immediate harvest volumes. Furthermore, outdated land tenure systems often deny tenant farmers legal ownership of timber trees, removing any financial incentive to maintain non-cocoa trees on their land.

Consequently, technical advocacy for climate-smart agriculture is insufficient on its own. For agroforestry to become the dominant production paradigm, institutional reforms must provide farmers with guaranteed tree tenure and transitional financial support. Ultimately, securing the future of West African cocoa requires synthesizing ecological restoration with economic viability, ensuring that environmental sustainability does not come at the expense of smallholder livelihoods.

Which of the following statements best summarizes the central argument of the passage?