Amidst scorching temperatures and a landscape dominated by cocoa trees, Christian Andre Yapi faces a grim reality: the prized cocoa beans are failing to thrive, posing a significant challenge for the world’s leading cocoa producer.
Yapi, speaking to AFP from his plantation near Agboville, approximately 70 kilometers (about 45 miles) from Abidjan, expresses concern as he observes the beans turning black and rotting due to the relentless heat. “They are not growing properly because of the heat,” he remarks, highlighting the adverse impact on cocoa cultivation.
Typically, the leaves of cocoa trees offer shade to the pods, but the intense sun is desiccating them, causing premature shedding. Yapi’s workday is confined to mornings due to the extreme heat, leaving ample time to contemplate his dwindling yields. “Normally in the off season, I get up to a tonne,” he laments, “but this year, he expects just 300 kilograms (660 pounds).”
The surge in temperatures, particularly from January to March, following last year’s heavy rains, has severely affected the cocoa crop, which contributes nearly 45 percent of global production. Daouda Konate, head of Ivory Coast’s national weather agency Sodexam, reports a record temperature of 41 degrees Celsius (106 Fahrenheit) in Dimbrokro, central Ivory Coast, in February, well above the usual range of 35-36C (95-97F) for that time of year.
Ivory Coast is not alone in grappling with soaring temperatures. Mali witnessed extreme heat, with Kayes, in the southwest, recording a stifling 48.5C (119F) in early April. Siaka Kone, an agronomist and head of the higher school of agronomy in Yamoussoukro, underscores the detrimental effects of prolonged and intense heat on plants, leading to inadequate water availability and hindering proper growth and fruiting.
The escalating temperatures not only jeopardize agricultural productivity but also pose economic challenges for Ivory Coast, where agriculture accounts for a quarter of GDP and half of all employment. Daouda Konate attributes this year’s exceptional heat to the El Nino phenomenon, exacerbated by human activities such as consumption and industrial processes.
While Africa has historically contributed minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions, it experiences disproportionate warming, with temperatures rising 1.4°C across the continent compared to 1.1°C globally since the mid-19th century. Ivory Coast, recognizing the urgent need for action, aims to reduce emissions by over 30 percent and preserve its dwindling forests.
According to government projections, climate change could result in annual GDP losses of 3-4.5 percent by 2030. Farmers, ill-prepared for recurrent heatwaves, face significant challenges. Nahounou Pierre Lautti Daleba, a geo-economist and environmental activist, emphasizes the necessity for adaptation measures, including water retention projects and preserving vegetation to mitigate the impact of rising temperatures.
Urbanization exacerbates the challenges, as evidenced by Abidjan’s rapid growth, which now houses six million residents. Maimouna Ymba, a researcher at Felix Houphouet-Boigny University, warns of “islands of urban heat” within the city, where soil temperatures soar 5-10 percent above surrounding areas due to a combination of urbanization and human activities.
As the mercury continues to rise, Ivory Coast faces an uphill battle to safeguard its cocoa industry and agricultural sector against the ravages of climate change.
