Shade Tree Advice Tool: Enhancing Resilience and Adaptive Agricultural Livelihoods in Uganda

Tips on shade trees for better cocoa crop yields

The Shade Tree Advice Tool utilizes the knowledge of expert and local farmers regarding trees in various agro-ecological zones. The tool provides accessible information online and offline, with pre-loaded locally specific content for optimal shade tree recommendations. Its architecture enables swift data transfers and ensures real-time synchronization between web and mobile devices. Additionally, the tool's simplicity allows for cost-effective adaptation and scalability of the application.

This technology is TAAT1 validated.

7•7

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 7/9; level of use 7/9

IP

Open source / open access

Problem

Limited Guidance on Shade Tree Selection: Coffee and cocoa farmers lack sufficient advice or guidance on selecting the most suitable shade trees for their agroforestry systems.
Lack of Access to Comprehensive Information: Farmers often face challenges accessing locally specific and detailed information on shade trees suitable for their agroforestry systems.
Inadequate Data Synchronization and Transfer: The lack of efficient data synchronization between web and mobile devices can impede real-time access to updated and relevant information.
Limited Support for Sustainable Agroforestry Systems: Extension workers, commercial farmers, and decision-makers involved in sustainable coffee and cocoa agroforestry systems lack specialized advice on optimal tree species selection.
Lack of Localized Data for Farmers: Coffee farmers lack information tailored to their specific locations and conditions for selecting shade trees.

Solution

The tool offers comprehensive advice and recommendations for optimal shade tree selection.
It offers comprehensive information on shade trees, both online and offline, allowing smallholder coffee farmers, extension workers, and decision-makers in the coffee and cocoa industry to access and utilize the best shade tree advice.
The tool is regularly updated with the latest information on shade tree selection, maximizing its efficiency and relevance for users.
It offers tailored guidance for selecting appropriate tree species, specifically designed to aid in adaptation to climate change and the improvement of coffee and cocoa farming practices.

Key points to design your business plan

In this section, you will soon discover essential elements to develop your business plan. You'll find a brief list of important questions to consider before launching your business, along with information on the technology's value proposition, target audience, key resources, strategic partners, and cost structure. This compilation will assist you in evaluating the various crucial aspects to ensure the success of your business.

In the meantime, use the 'Request information' button if you need to contact us.

Adults 18 and over: Positive high

The poor: Positive low

Women: Positive low

Climate adaptability: Highly adaptable

Farmer climate change readiness: Significant improvement

Biodiversity: Positive impact on biodiversity

Carbon footprint: Much less carbon released

Environmental health: Moderately improves environmental health

Soil quality: Does not affect soil health and fertility

Water use: Same amount of water used

Scaling Readiness describes how complete a technology\’s development is and its ability to be scaled. It produces a score that measures a technology\’s readiness along two axes: the level of maturity of the idea itself, and the level to which the technology has been used so far.

Each axis goes from 0 to 9 where 9 is the “ready-to-scale” status. For each technology profile in the e-catalogs we have documented the scaling readiness status from evidence given by the technology providers. The e-catalogs only showcase technologies for which the scaling readiness score is at least 8 for maturity of the idea and 7 for the level of use.

The graph below represents visually the scaling readiness status for this technology, you can see the label of each level by hovering your mouse cursor on the number.

Scaling readiness score of this technology

Maturity of the idea 7 out of 9

Semi-controlled environment: prototype

Level of use 7 out of 9

Common use by projects NOT connected to technology provider

Maturity of the idea										Level of use
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested
Countries with a blue colour: Testing ongoing

Countries where the technology is being tested or has been tested and adopted
Country	Testing ongoing	Tested	Adopted
Uganda	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.

Agro-ecological zones where this technology can be used
AEZ	Subtropic - warm	Subtropic - cool	Tropic - warm	Tropic - cool
Arid
Semiarid
Subhumid
Humid

Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.

Goal 8: decent work and economic growth

Goal 15: life on land

Design and Compatibility: The Shade Tree Advice Smartphone tool is specifically designed to function on Android phones, ensuring compatibility with this operating system.
Accessibility Online and Offline: The tool is constructed to provide accessible information to users regardless of their online or offline status. Users can access information even without an active internet connection.
Pre-loaded Locally Specific Content: The tool is equipped with pre-loaded content tailored to local specifications, offering users access to the most pertinent and best shade tree information specific to their region.
Fast Data Transfer and Real-time Synchronization: The architecture of the tool allows for fast data transfers and maximizes real-time data synchronization between web and mobile devices. This ensures that the information provided is up-to-date and readily available across various platforms.

Last updated on Jun 2, 2026