Côte d'Ivoire rainfall shortages threaten cocoa harvests

Poor rainfall in Côte d'Ivoire, the world's leading cocoa producer, is threatening future harvests. Farmers in several regions, including Agboville, Abengourou, Divo, Daloa, Bongouanou, and Yamoussoukro, report that insufficient moisture is causing young cocoa pods to fall from trees prematurely.

In addition to the threat to pod maturation, cloudy skies are preventing farmers from properly drying harvested beans, a critical step for storage and sale. These weather conditions raise significant concerns regarding the volume and quality of the 2026/27 cocoa harvest, which could have economic implications for neighboring Ghana.