Climate Change and Cocoa Production in Côte d'Ivoire: Should we Worry?

This study investigates the effects of climate change on cocoa production in Côte d'Ivoire. The data ranged from 1961 to 2016. An ARDL model was used to investigate short and long-run dynamics between climate variables and cocoa yield. We found that in the short run, high temperatures have negative impact on cocoa trees and rainfall has a positive impact on cocoa yield. In the long run, while increase in rainfall may negatively impact cocoa yield, increases in temperature could be beneficial to cocoa yield in the country. Given IPCC’s weather predictions for the country there is need to worry.