Côte d’Ivoire’s Quiet Agricultural Revolution
A soft light sweeps over a plantation in southern Côte d’Ivoire as a farmer tends to rows of rubber trees dripping with latex. Just ten years ago, this land was filled with cocoa—the “brown gold” that once drove the country’s economy. Now, the farmer’s shift from cocoa to rubber tells a larger story of change in Ivory Coast’s agriculture. Across the country, farmers are rethinking their fields, blending old traditions with new ideas. This quiet transformation unfolds in the hum of rice mills, the scent of drying cashews, and the unexpected sight of rubber tapping at sunrise.
Agriculture is deeply embedded in Côte d’Ivoire’s identity. It accounts for about a quarter of the nation’s GDP and 60% of export earnings, employing two-thirds of the population [Trade.gov, 2024]. For decades, the country’s fortunes were tied to cocoa—it grows more cocoa beans than any other nation, producing around 45% of the global supply. But this heavy reliance on a single crop has proven risky. In recent years, erratic weather and aging plantations have battered the cocoa industry. The 2023–24 harvest plummeted nearly 25%, from 2.3 million tons to 1.75 million, as floods, drought, and disease ravaged trees planted generations ago [Reuters, 2025]. Yet, even as the cocoa sector faltered, Côte d’Ivoire’s economy continued growing at over 6% annually, thanks in part to a surge in food crop production [AfDB, 2024]. This striking contrast underscores a critical realization for policymakers and farmers alike: diversification and innovation in agriculture are not just desirable—they are essential.
The government in Abidjan recognizes the vulnerabilities of being a raw commodity exporter and has launched an ambitious drive to diversify and add value to its agricultural output [World Bank, 2025]. Cocoa, for instance, is undergoing a transformation. Authorities have introduced tax incentives and partnered with foreign investors to expand local processing. Currently, about 35–40% of Ivorian cocoa is processed into butter and powder domestically, with plans to increase that to at least 50% [Reuters, 2023]. While this strategy creates new opportunities, it also comes with limitations: cocoa processing is capital-intensive and generates fewer jobs per ton compared to other crops. Analysts have pointed out that the funds required to create a single job in a cocoa factory could instead create hundreds of jobs in cashew processing [The Economist, 2018]. This realization has driven the government to look beyond cocoa, focusing on crops like cashews that offer greater potential for job creation and economic diversification.
Few crops exemplify Côte d’Ivoire’s agricultural evolution as vividly as the cashew nut. Practically absent from export statistics 15 years ago, cashews have since catapulted the country to the position of the world’s largest producer. Output soared from 400,000 tons in 2011 to 1 million tons by 2022 [Reuters, 2023]. Grown primarily in the drier northern regions, cashews have become a lifeline for farmers diversifying away from cotton and cocoa. However, the rise of cashews has also exposed familiar challenges: most of the harvest is exported raw, with processors in Asia reaping the profits from shelling and roasting. In 2023, only 22% of Côte d’Ivoire’s cashews were processed locally [Reuters, 2024], leaving 850,000 tons to be shipped overseas unprocessed.
To capture more value domestically, the government and local entrepreneurs are building a processing industry from the ground up. Incentives like tax breaks on equipment, subsidies, and guaranteed minimum prices for farmers are driving this effort. By 2026, the goal is to process half of the national cashew crop locally [Reuters, 2024]. Progress is evident: dozens of cashew processing plants have sprung up, creating tens of thousands of jobs in rural communities. Each factory brings new opportunities, with young workers lining up to crack shells and sort nuts by hand. While competition from established Asian processors and global cashew price fluctuations pose challenges, the determination to anchor more of the value chain at home remains steadfast. What once seemed like an improbable dream—rivaling Vietnam in the cashew trade—is now within reach.
While cashews steal headlines, another quiet revolution is transforming Côte d’Ivoire’s agricultural landscape: rubber. In 2023, the country’s rubber production hit a record 1.7 million tons, surging more than 30% in a single year [Reuters, 2024]. This remarkable growth has made Côte d’Ivoire the world’s third-largest rubber producer, trailing only Thailand and Indonesia, and the undisputed leader in Africa. Rubber offers smallholders a steady, year-round income through latex tapping—an appealing alternative to cocoa’s seasonal harvests. Cooperatives and industry groups have supported farmers with training, free seedlings, and technical assistance, enabling them to transition to rubber or establish mixed plantations [Reuters, 2024]. In some southern regions, rows of rubber trees now dominate landscapes once shaded by cocoa groves.
For Côte d’Ivoire, the rubber boom is both an opportunity and a challenge. On one hand, it diversifies export earnings and insulates farmers from cocoa market volatility. On the other, it raises concerns about sustainability. Expanding rubber plantations can encroach on forests, echoing the environmental toll of cocoa farming. To address these risks, the government is mapping rubber plots via GPS and enforcing rules to prevent deforestation [Reuters, 2024]. Rubber’s rise encapsulates the essence of Côte d’Ivoire’s agricultural transformation: pursuing diversification and modernization while balancing economic growth with environmental stewardship.
Beyond export crops, another transformation is taking place closer to home—in the nation’s food security. Rice, a staple of the Ivorian diet, has long been imported in vast quantities despite the country’s fertile land and favorable climate. Historically, local rice farmers struggled with low yields and outdated techniques. That, however, is changing. Around Yamoussoukro, farmers like François K. proudly showcase fields of drought-resistant rice varieties that can be harvested twice a year. With improved irrigation, mechanization, and new seeds, yields have climbed to 5 tons per hectare—up from just 1 ton in previous years. Côte d’Ivoire currently produces 1.4 million tons of rice annually, falling short of the 2.1 million tons it consumes [Reuters, 2024]. The shortfall has made it one of Africa’s largest rice importers, leaving it vulnerable to global price swings and supply disruptions.
Determined to achieve self-sufficiency, the government has invested over half a billion dollars in a national rice program, aiming to boost production by more than 50% within three years [Reuters, 2024]. If successful, Côte d’Ivoire could meet its domestic rice demand by 2027, reducing reliance on imports and strengthening food security. The benefits extend beyond feeding the population—thriving rice farms would also boost rural incomes and provide economic opportunities in regions less suited for cocoa or export crops. Though less glamorous than rubber or cashews, the sight of abundant rice fields stands as a quiet but profound testament to the nation’s agricultural progress.
Underlying these individual successes is a broader narrative of strategic policymaking and sustainability. Côte d’Ivoire’s leaders view agricultural transformation as both an economic necessity and a social mission. Diversification is key, but so is doing agriculture differently—intensively, sustainably, and with more value generated locally. The country’s National Development Plan emphasizes land reforms, rural infrastructure, and climate-smart farming techniques. Initiatives like agroforestry in cocoa plantations and zero-deforestation commitments for rubber and palm oil reflect a growing focus on balancing growth with environmental responsibility. While these efforts are still in their infancy, they signal a shift from the exploitative practices of the past toward a more sustainable future.
At the heart of this transformation is the resilience and ingenuity of Côte d’Ivoire’s farmers. Agriculture remains the “engine” of the nation’s rise, driven by millions of smallholders adapting to new realities. In villages, elders recall the first cocoa boom, while younger farmers experiment with cashew grafting or use smartphones to track market prices. Their challenges remain daunting—volatile prices, unpredictable weather, and grueling labor—but there is a growing sense of optimism. Diversification means that a poor cocoa season no longer spells disaster for entire communities, and government support is gradually improving livelihoods.
Can Côte d’Ivoire’s agricultural transformation deliver on its promises? While uncertainties remain, the progress so far suggests a cautious but compelling yes. From the cocoa groves of the southwest to the rubber plantations and rice paddies reshaping the countryside, the scale of change is striking. Farmers are rewriting the nation’s economic story one crop, one policy, and one innovation at a time. As dawn breaks over a plantation, a farmer taps a rubber tree, another plants drought-resistant rice, and a community builds hope for a more resilient future. Together, they are cultivating not just crops but the next chapter of Côte d’Ivoire’s rise—one rooted in pragmatism, perseverance, and a quiet determination to thrive.
References:
IMF (2025). “Côte d’Ivoire: Fostering Economic Transformation and Adapting to Climate Change.” IMF Country Focus, Jan 14, 2025. (Notes on diversification reducing vulnerability, Ivory Coast as a pillar of regional growth)
AfDB (2024). Côte d’Ivoire Economic Outlook 2023. African Development Bank. (Noting 22.7% drop in cocoa production offset by food crop growth)
Trade.gov (2024). Côte d’Ivoire – Agro-Processing and Agricultural Services. U.S. Department of Commerce, Feb 8, 2024. (Agriculture as % of GDP, exports, and employment)
World Bank (2025). Côte d’Ivoire Country Overview. World Bank, updated Apr 3, 2025. (Ambition to move beyond raw exports; cashew processing leadership)
Reuters (2025). “Top cocoa producer Ivory Coast to slash exports from smaller upcoming crop, sources say.” Reuters News, Mar 25, 2025. (Cocoa output declines due to climate change and aging plantations)
Reuters (2024). “Ivorian farmers turn to new rice variety for increased yields and profit.” Reuters News, Aug 2, 2024. (Rice production, new varieties, output and consumption figures, investment in self-sufficiency)
Reuters (2024). “Ivory Coast cashew processors urge government to renew support.” Reuters News, Feb 21, 2024. (Cashew industry stats: 22% processed locally, 1.25 million tons output, goal to reach 50% processing by 2026)
Reuters (2023). “Slump in global cashew demand pushes Ivory Coast industry to verge of collapse.” Reuters News, June 5, 2023. (Cashew output growth from 2011 to 2022; Ivory Coast as leading cashew producer; challenges in the sector)
Reuters (2024). [Devdiscourse summary] “Ivory Coast’s record rubber production: A shift from cocoa.” Originally Reuters, June 7, 2024. (Natural rubber production reaching 1.7 million tons, farmers switching from cocoa to rubber for stable income, efforts to comply with EU deforestation law)
Reuters (2023). “Ivory Coast to boost cocoa grinding capacity with new plants.” Reuters News, Jan 27, 2023. (Cocoa processing at 35–40% of output, plans to increase to 50% with new factories)
The Economist (2018). “Cocoa processing is not a golden ticket for West Africa.” The Economist, Nov 17, 2018. (Observation on jobs: capital for one cocoa-processing job could create 300 jobs in cashew processing)