Ivory Coast seeks climate-resilient cocoa as rainfall grows unpredictable

Ivory Coast, the world's top cocoa producer responsible for nearly 40 percent of global output, is facing unpredictable and less abundant rainfall that has caused cocoa trees to wilt, according to Dawn, which quoted farmer Kofi Alexis Amani saying "You can lose everything."3

Arab News similarly reports that Ivory Coast's cocoa sector, vital to its GDP, faces challenges from unpredictable rainfall.2

In Nigeria, the Federal Government says the country loses about $2 billion a year in potential cocoa value due to underutilized processing capacity, while the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture says West Africa needs high-yielding, climate-resilient cocoa varieties to protect productivity.1

Ivory Coast produces nearly 40 percent of global cocoa output and the crop accounts for 15 percent of its GDP, supporting roughly five million people, according to Dawn.3

Nigeria's government says the country loses about $2 billion annually from underutilized cocoa processing capacity, while the IITA says West Africa needs climate-resilient cocoa varieties.1