Climate Variability and Outlook of Cocoa Production in Côte D’ivoire under Future Climate

Abstract

Cocoa supports about 3.5 million people. Farmers produce each year 1.5 million ton. This performance hides production constraints, the most is climate variability. The climatic variables, temperature, precipitation, and 16 climatic indices were identified to assess the potential impacts on cacao in the past year, currently and under future climate. The climate data in the southern and central cocoa production zone were analysed for periods of 2021–2050 and 2041–2070. The climate reference period is 1981–2010. The climate projections are from the CORDEX RCP 4.5 and 8.5. The results suggest an increase in daily temperature of 1.0–2.1°C in the central region and 0.9–2.0°C in the southern region by 2041–2070. Cocoa could be affected by the projected changes, especially in the central region where the maximum daily temperature at which production is reduced (33°C) would be exceeded between 92 and 142 days per year by this time horizon. The direction of changes in precipitation cannot be established due to a lack of consensus between the climate models analysed. However, the little rainy season would start slightly earlier, potentially reducing the duration of the little dry season between the rainy seasons. The climate scenarios enhanced deterioration of growing environment conditions. It is necessary to take adaptation measures to mitigate climate impacts.