Côte d’Ivoire anacardes weak harvest bounkani region

The cashew harvest season in Côte d’Ivoire is reaching its peak, yet the outlook for production in the Bounkani region, located in the northeast, is far from promising. The Cotton and Cashew Council projects a total output of slightly more than 1.3 million tonnes of raw cashew nuts this year—a figure that, while still robust, represents a potential decline of 200,000 tonnes compared to 2025. This downward trend is particularly pronounced in the Bounkani area, where farmers are grappling with the consequences of erratic rainfall patterns.

In Bouna, a 3-hectare cashew plantation stands nearly barren this season. Kouamé Ouattara, the farmer managing the land, shares his frustrations: « Three years ago, I could harvest up to 500 kilograms per hectare. Now, I barely manage to collect two sacks from the entire 3 hectares. » He attributes the decline to disrupted rainfall cycles. « Traditionally, we expect heavy rains from November to December to encourage flowering. But this year, the rains stopped in October. From October to February, there was no precipitation. When flowering fails, we must wait an entire year for recovery. »

The repercussions extend beyond cashew yields. Local beekeepers, who often place hives within cashew orchards, are also facing significant losses. Koffi Ouattara, president of the Koflangué Beekeepers Association, explains: « Our honey production has plummeted. Last year, we harvested 100 liters. This year, we’ve collected only 30 liters—less than a third of our usual output. »

Addressing farming practices to restore productivity

While climate factors play a major role, experts highlight suboptimal agricultural practices as a contributing cause. Dr. Sibirina Soro, a researcher at the University of Daloa and coordinator of the national cashew research project, notes: « Many orchards resemble dense forests due to improper planting density. The recommended density is 100 trees per hectare, but many plantations exceed this, leading to competition for resources and reduced yields. »

Soro advocates for the rehabilitation of existing orchards and emphasizes the importance of training farmers to combat pests naturally. « In Côte d’Ivoire, producers avoid chemical inputs, which increases their vulnerability to crop losses during poor harvests. Strengthening support for these farmers is essential to safeguard the sector. »