Côte d’Ivoire’s agriculture: driving growth amid economic challenges

The Côte d’Ivoire stands as one of West Africa‘s most vibrant economies, with agriculture serving as its historical backbone. At independence, the agricultural sector accounted for nearly 50% of the country’s GDP. By 2024, its share had declined to 15.9%, yet it remains a critical employer, supporting 46% of the workforce. Agricultural products continue to dominate Côte d’Ivoire‘s trade balance, comprising 51.5% of exports in 2025.

Poverty rates are disproportionately higher in rural areas, where 54.4% of the population lives below the poverty line, compared to a national average of 37.5%. Agriculture is the primary source of income in these regions, with about 90% of farmers in the lowest income decile. Within the cocoa industry, an estimated 60% of farmers struggle to meet the national poverty threshold.

While Côte d’Ivoire leads global production in cocoa and cashew nuts, ranks third in natural rubber, and boasts thriving cash crops, it still relies heavily on cereal and fish imports to sustain its urban populations. The local food production system remains largely informal and unstructured, leaving smallholder farmers with restricted market access and limited opportunities for growth.