From Bouna, our special correspondent

Kouamé Ouattara tends to a 3-hectare cashew plantation that has yielded almost nothing this season. « Three years ago, I could harvest 500 kg per hectare. Now, I barely gather two bags across the entire 3 hectares. » The farmer blames the sharp decline on disrupted rainfall patterns. « Normally, heavy rains between November and December trigger flowering. This year, rains stopped in October, leaving a dry spell from October through February. Once flowering fails, recovery takes a full year—so the entire harvest is lost. »

Beekeepers maintaining hives in cashew orchards are also reeling from the crisis. « Honey production has collapsed, » notes Koffi Ouattara, president of the Koflangué beekeepers’ association. « Last year, we harvested 100 liters; this season, only 30 liters. It’s a devastating loss. »

Farming practices exacerbate the crisis

Beyond climate factors, experts point to suboptimal farming practices. Dr. Sibirina Soro, a researcher at Daloa University and national cashew project coordinator, highlights overcrowded plantations as a major issue. « Many orchards resemble dense forests because initial planting density wasn’t controlled. » He recommends restoring orchards to the recommended 100 trees per hectare.

Soro also conducts annual training to combat pest infestations, stressing the need for better farmer support. « In Côte d’Ivoire, cashew growers avoid chemical use, making them vulnerable to total crop failure during droughts. »