Extreme weather in Africa: Floods, heat, and dry winds challenge cocoa production

Recent heavy rains in Ivory Coast, the world’s largest cocoa producer, have caused significant damage to crops, affecting production and raising concerns for farmers. At the same time, the seasonal dryness of the Harmattan is intensifying, bringing new challenges to the growing regions of West Africa. In the southwest of the country, farmers are reporting a worrying scenario. Heavy flooding during the rainy season has forced many producers to temporarily abandon their plantations. According to Joseph N’Guessan, a farmer in Gueyo, the situation is critical: — “The pods have rotted or turned black. The harvest is now very small.” In the southeast, however, the outlook is somewhat more optimistic. According to Daniel Bile, a farmer in Noé, this season’s harvest has been better than last year’s, as the first phase of the main harvest comes to an end. In Ghana, the weather is also posing additional challenges. While morning dew provides temporary relief for crops, the scorching sun ...