(Ecofin Agency) - Caterpillar infestation could negatively affect the cocoa output in some of the southern regions in Côte d’Ivoire. According to Reuters, which revealed the information, 200 ha are already affected in San Pedro where the world’s biggest cocoa export port is located.

“We will have a lot of losses. The caterpillars are ravaging many pods and leaves in the plantations,” said Apollinaire Boa, a farmer in Sassandra region.

Although this situation raises concerns about the affected regions’ output, the threat to national production is however limited, as no caterpillar attack has been noticed in main growing areas such as Daloa, Soubre, and Abengourou. Plus, the good rainfall recorded will affect the crops positively.

Let’s recall that cocoa is grown over 2 million ha across around 51 districts in Côte d’Ivoire.

Espoir Olodo