The cashew marketing season is currently underway across Côte d’Ivoire. This year, the Cotton and Cashew Council anticipates a total yield exceeding 1.3 million tons of nuts. While this represents a robust production consistent with recent trends, it still marks a potential decrease of 200,000 tons compared to the previous year. Several regions within the country are facing challenges, primarily due to shifts in rainfall patterns. This issue is particularly pronounced in Bounkani, located in the northeastern part of the nation.

Reporting from Bouna, I visited a cashew plantation spanning three hectares. This season, local farmer Kouamé Ouattara feels effectively sidelined, as his orchard has yielded next to nothing. “Three years ago, I could harvest 500 kilograms per hectare. But now, I can’t even collect two bags of cashews from all three hectares,” he lamented. Ouattara attributes this dire situation to a significant disruption in the typical rainy season. “Normally, we expect heavy rains between November and December, which are crucial for the cashew trees to flower. However, this year, the rains ceased in October,” he explained. “October, November, December, January, February – there was no rain. Once the flowering fails, you have to wait until the next year. Consequently, the entire season has been a failure.”

Another profound impact is being felt by beekeepers who maintain hives within these cashew plantations. Their honey production has been almost negligible. “We don’t have enough honey right now,” emphasized Koffi Ouattara, president of the Koflangué beekeepers’ association. “Last year, we produced 100 liters of honey. This year, it’s only 30 liters. For us, this represents a significant loss.”

Improving cultivation practices for better cashew yields

Beyond the climatic factors, Dr. Sibirina Soro, a research lecturer at the University of Daloa and coordinator of the national cashew research project, suggests that inadequate farming practices also contribute to the current challenges. “A large part of this is due to orchard density. Many cashew groves resemble forests; the initial planting density was not maintained,” he explained. “Today, we are advising farmers to rehabilitate these orchards to achieve optimal density. The recommended average is 100 trees per hectare.”

Furthermore, Dr. Soro annually organizes training sessions focused on combating destructive insect pests. He advocates for enhanced support for farmers, noting that Ivorian cashew producers typically do not employ chemical treatments in their fields. This practice leaves them more vulnerable to significant losses when harvests are poor.