Overview Situated in a tropical region with plenty of rainfall and fertile soil, the Ivory Coast relies on agricultural development and is very sensitive to price fluctuations and weather conditions. The agricultural sector in the Ivory Coast employs the majority of the working population and produces a major proportion of the country's GDP and exports. The primary products are cocoa and coffee which, along with timber, cotton, pineapples and bananas, make up the main export crops. The Ivory Coast is the world's leading cocoa bean exporter. Through reforestation, the Ivory Coast plans to stabilise its cocoa growing areas.
Problems encountered by cocoa producers include insects, fungi, viruses and parasites.
The government planned to liberalise the cocoa sector in October 1998 and the coffee sector in the 1998-99 crop year. With the construction of a cocoa processing plant by Cargill, an increase in the local processing of cocoa will increase employment opportunities as well as increasing revenue. Meat production in the Ivory Coast does not meet local demand due to poor livestock breeding. Timber is one of the country's most important export products. However, reforestation is not keeping pace with the depletion of timber species.