Côte d’Ivoire’s cashew nut harvest season is in full swing, with the Cotton and Cashew Council projecting over 1.3 million tonnes this year. While national production remains robust compared to previous years, it is expected to decline by 200,000 tonnes from last season’s figures. However, the Bounkani region in the northeast is facing significant challenges, primarily due to erratic rainfall patterns.
climate disruption hits cashew production
From Bouna, our reporter witnessed firsthand the struggles of local farmers. Kouamé Ouattara, a cashew grower with a 3-hectare plantation, described being effectively unemployed this season. “Three years ago, I could harvest 500 kg per hectare. Now, I can barely collect two bags across the entire 3 hectares,” he lamented. Ouattara attributes the decline to disrupted rainfall patterns. “Typically, heavy rains between November and December help cashew trees bloom. But this year, the rains stopped in October. From October through February, there was no significant rainfall. When flowering fails once, you have to wait until the next year—this season’s harvest is lost,” he explained.
The consequences extend beyond cashew production. Beekeepers who maintain hives in cashew orchards are also suffering. Koffi Ouattara, president of the Koflangué beekeepers’ association, noted a drastic reduction in honey output. “Last year, we produced 100 liters of honey. This year, we’ve barely reached 30 liters. It’s a significant loss for us,” he said.
farming practices need urgent improvement
Beyond climate factors, experts point to suboptimal farming practices as a major contributor to the poor harvest. Dr. Sibirina Soro, a researcher at Daloa University and coordinator of the national cashew research project, emphasized the importance of proper orchard density. “Many orchards resemble dense forests because initial planting densities were not respected. The recommended density is 100 trees per hectare. Rehabilitating these orchards is essential,” he advised. Soro also conducts annual training sessions to combat pest infestations and advocates for better support for farmers, who avoid chemical inputs in their orchards, leaving them more vulnerable to losses during poor harvests.