The cashew marketing season in Côte d’Ivoire is currently in full swing. While the Cotton and Cashew Council anticipates a robust output of over 1.3 million tonnes of nuts this year, mirroring recent trends, projections suggest a potential drop of 200,000 tonnes compared to the previous year. Significant challenges are emerging in specific regions, particularly in the Bounkani area of the country’s northeast, largely due to unseasonal rainfall patterns.
I witnessed firsthand the struggles in Bouna, where a 3-hectare cashew plantation belonging to Kouamé Ouattara currently lies dormant. This season, he feels effectively jobless, as his orchard has yielded next to nothing. « Three years ago, I could harvest 500 kg per hectare. Now, I can’t even collect two bags (of cashews) from all three hectares » he recounted. This farmer attributes the dire situation to a dramatic shift in the rainy season. « Typically, we rely on significant rainfall between November and December for the cashew trees to flower » he explained with a sigh. « But this year, the rains ceased in October. October, November, December, January, February – there was no rain. Once flowering fails, you have to wait until the next year. So, this season has been a complete failure ».
The ripple effect extends to local beekeepers, who maintain hives within these cashew plantations. Their honey production has plummeted to near-zero levels. « We simply don’t have enough honey right now » emphasized Koffi Ouattara, president of the Koflangué beekeepers association. « Last year, we harvested 100 liters. This year, it’s only 30 liters. For us, this represents a significant loss ».
Addressing Suboptimal Cultivation Methods
Beyond the immediate climatic challenges, the poor cashew yields are also linked to inadequate cultivation practices, according to Dr. Sibirina Soro, a research professor at Daloa University and coordinator of the national cashew research project. « A significant portion of this issue stems from orchard density » he clarified. « Many orchards resemble forests; the initial planting density was not maintained. We are now advising farmers to rehabilitate these orchards to achieve an optimal density. The recommended average is 100 trees per hectare ».
Dr. Soro further organizes annual training sessions aimed at combating destructive insect pests. He advocates for enhanced support for farmers, noting that Ivorian cashew producers typically avoid chemical products in their fields. This reliance on natural methods, while environmentally friendly, leaves them more susceptible to substantial losses during periods of poor harvest.