Agence Ecofin TikTok Agence Ecofin Youtube Agence WhatsApp

Agriculture

Rising storm for Ivorian cocoa

Thursday, 25 August 2016 07:44

(Ecofin Agency) - In Cote d’Ivoire, cocoa exporters forecast a decrease of about 200,000 tons of cocoa in the exported volume in the first three months of the 2016-2017 season. The fall will mainly result from low rain and insufficient stocks from previous season.

According to Reuters, arrivals to ports slumped by 15% this season, and few people expect an improvement given that the new season starts next October. The forecast is much important considering that 40% of the nation’s yearly output is produced between October and December. According to the head of an Abidjan-based export firm who asked not to be named, Cote d’Ivoire which produced 859,821 metric tons of cocoa last year, should produce this year between 660-710 thousands metric tons.

I agree that it is troubling considering that so far, we thought that even if harvest was not good, at least it would rival that of the 2015-2016 season,” another exporter said.

In fields, farmers also share the same fear. Felix Konan, who farms around San Pedro, said: “Harvest will not be good. Usually in September, we are cutting the first matured pods but this year there is nothing to cut”. “We hoped for a good harvest but this is the reality, harvest will be bad,” added Didier Zakpa, a farmer from Soubré.

Ali Lakiss, Director General of SAF CACAO, said that “the beginning of the season will be difficult because there will not be enough cocoa for everybody”. “We are ready to fight for each bean produced,” he emphasized.

Aaron Akinocho

 
Finance


 
Mining


 
Telecom


 
Public Management


ECOFIN AGENCY offers a selection of articles translated from AGENCE ECOFIN. Founded in 2011, Agence Ecofin is a leader in Francophone Pan-African economic news, particularly in West and Central Africa. The agency publishes daily news on nine African economic sectors: Public Management, Finance, ICT, Agribusiness, Energy, Mining, Transport & Logistics, Communication, and Training.

AGENCE ECOFIN
Mediamania Sarl
Rue du Léman, 6
1201 Genève
Tél: +41 22 301 96 11

EDITORIAL TEAM
redaction@agenceecofin.com

ADVERTISING SALES
Benjamin FLAUX
bf@agenceecofin.com
Tél: +41 22 301 96 11
Mob: +41 78 699 13 72

 

Please publish modules in offcanvas position.