Agriculture
From The Report: Cote d'Ivoire 2015
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Agriculture is one of the most important drivers of growth in the Ivorian economy in terms of revenues, employment and value-added activities. Contributing 22% to GDP, the sector accounts for at least 50% of exports and provides jobs to 60-70% of the population, according to the World Bank. Fertile land and favourable weather conditions enabled the country to become one of the most successful yet diversified agricultural producers in the world, contributing the largest share of cocoa to the global market, equivalent to 40% of global output in 2013/14. Although years of civil war obstructed investment, government initiatives are facilitating the restructuring and rejuvenation of production in crops as diverse as cocoa, cashew, cotton, rice and maize. State programmes also hope to address challenges to sectoral growth such as low agricultural productivity, poor access to credit and price insecurity. The diversity and potential of Côte d’Ivoire’s agricultural activities will ensure the sector remains a key source of economic growth and employment.

This chapter contains interviews with Massandjé Touré-Litsé, CEO, Coffee Cocoa Council; and Youval Rasin, CEO, DekelOil.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Standing strong: State programmes actively addressing challenges to sectoral growth
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Agriculture is one of the most important drivers of growth in the Ivorian economy in terms of revenues, employment and value-added activities. Contributing 22% to GDP, the sector accounts for at least 50% of exports and provides jobs to 60-70% of the population, according to the World Bank. Fertile land and favourable weather conditions enabled the country to become one of the most successful yet diversified agricultural producers in the world, contributing the largest share of cocoa to the global…

Analysis

Changing policies: Cocoa reforms have empowered farmers but presented new challenges
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Implemented in November 2011 under the auspices of the sector’s new regulatory body, the Coffee Cocoa Council (Conseil du Café-Cacao, CCC), the cocoa reforms sought to address arguably the largest obstacle to local production: price insecurity for farmers. The enforcement of a minimum 60% cost, insurance and freight (CIF) price for farmers has produced major improvements in the sector’s performance, having provided farmers with an economic incentive to grow cocoa and reinvest in their crops…

Interview

Massandjé Touré-Litsé, CEO, Coffee Cocoa Council (Conseil Café Cacao, CCC): Interview
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Interview:Massandjé Touré-Litsé Can cocoa processing in Côte d’Ivoire be increased? MASSANDJE TOURÉ-LITSÉ: In 2014, the cocoa processed locally accounted for 35% of the country’s output. By 2023, the government wants 50% of output to be locally processed cocoa products. To reach that aim, competitiveness studies are being conducted – notably in terms of factor cost – to assess Côte d’Ivoire’s attractiveness to investors compared to other countries in the region. Meanwhile,…

Interview

Youval Rasin, CEO, DekelOil: Interview
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Interview:Youval Rasin What can be done to increase palm oil processing? YOUVAL RASIN: Traditionally, in the palm business five years are required before yielding starts, and then a mill can be built. It needs between six and seven years before you see the first revenue on a palm oil project. Yet, in Côte d’Ivoire, fruits can be collected from local producers, so investors do not necessarily need to plant before processing. A few years ago, there was a lack of processing capacity, but…

Analysis

Bearing fruit: Policy changes create new difficulties for small-scale cocoa grinders
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Côte d’Ivoire is the world’s second-largest cocoa grinding hub after the Netherlands, and it produced 520,000 tonnes of processed cocoa in the 2013/14 growing year, or 12% of world cocoa processing. With a current grinding capacity of 550,000-600,000 tonnes, the government and the newly created sector regulator, the Coffee-Cocoa Council (Conseil du Café-Cacao, CCC) are seeking to boost local processing output from 30% of production to 50% by 2015. Policy Change In the early 1990s the government…

Analysis

Expansion ahead: Efforts under way to rejuvenate domestic cashew and cotton production
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Under the guidance of the newly established regulator, the Cotton and Cashew Council (Conseil du Coton et de l’Anacarde, CCA), the two dominant crops of northern Côte d’Ivoire are projected to expand rapidly over the next several years to meet government objectives for production and processing. Growth in the cashew and cotton sectors will be facilitated by new regulations inspired by the success of the cocoa and coffee reforms, including the introduction of a minimum 60% cost, insurance and…