Coffee production in Ivory Coast facts for kids
Coffee is a super important crop for Ivory Coast. It's one of the biggest things the country sells to other places. For a long time, in the 1970s and 1980s, Ivory Coast grew more coffee than any other country in Africa!
They were also one of the top producers of a type of coffee called robusta worldwide. Now, other countries like Vietnam and Brazil grow much more coffee. Ivory Coast is currently about 14th in the world for coffee production. But it still plays a big role in the country's economy.
Contents
History of Coffee in Ivory Coast
How Coffee Came to Be Grown
Coffee plants first arrived in Ivory Coast in the 1800s. They were brought by French people who had settled there. At that time, Ivory Coast was a French colony.
Growing More Coffee After the War
After World War II ended, coffee farming really took off. In 1945, Ivory Coast produced about 36,000 tons of coffee. By 1958, this number had jumped to 112,500 tons!
Peak Production and Challenges
Ivory Coast became an independent country in 1960. After this, coffee production reached its highest point in the 1970s. During this time, Ivory Coast was the third-largest coffee producer in the world. Only Brazil and Colombia grew more coffee.
However, some difficult times in the country, like a period of conflict, made it harder to grow coffee. This caused production to slow down. The way coffee is grown and managed in Ivory Coast still has roots in the time when it was a French colony. This has encouraged French companies to invest in the coffee business there.
What Kind of Coffee Is Grown?
Ivory Coast mainly grows a type of coffee called robusta coffee. This kind of coffee is known for its strong flavor and is often used in instant coffee and espresso blends.
Coffee Production Numbers
How Much Coffee Ivory Coast Produces
The amount of "green" coffee (which means unroasted coffee beans) produced in Ivory Coast has changed a lot over the years. Here's a look at some of the production numbers in tons:
| Year | Coffee Produced (tons) |
|---|---|
| 1965 | 202,105 |
| 1970 | 279,610 |
| 1975 | 270,400 |
| 1980 | 249,608 |
| 1985 | 277,082 |
| 1990 | 285,164 |
| 1995 | 194,968 |
| 2000 | 380,000 |
| 2005 | 230,000 |
| 2010 | 94,372 |
| 2011 | 32,291 |
| 2012 | 121,426 |
| 2013 | 103,743 |
| 2014 | 114,387 |
| 2015 | 127,000 |
| 2016 | 106,000 |
| 2017 | 103,514 |
Recent Production and Future Goals
The production of robusta coffee reached its highest point in 2000, with 380,000 tons. After that, production went down for more than ten years. This was mainly due to periods of conflict in the country, especially from 2002 to 2007 and again from 2010 to 2011.
In 2014, the agriculture minister of Ivory Coast announced a new goal. They want to produce 400,000 tons of coffee every year by 2020. This would be about four times more than what they were producing at that time. This shows how important coffee farming is to the country's plans for the future.
