Implications of changes in water stress and precipitation extremes for cocoa production in Côte D’Ivoire and Ghana

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cg.contributor.affiliationInternational Water Management Institute
cg.contributor.donorCGIAR Trust Fund
cg.contributor.initiativeWest and Central African Food Systems Transformation
cg.contributor.initiativeExcellence in Agronomy
cg.coverage.countryCôte d'Ivoire
cg.coverage.countryGhana
cg.coverage.iso3166-alpha2CIen_US
cg.coverage.iso3166-alpha2GHen_US
cg.coverage.regionWestern Africa
cg.creator.identifierSalomon OBAHOUNDJE: 0000-0001-8093-5241
cg.creator.identifierDr Akpoti Komlavi: 0000-0001-6435-5116
cg.creator.identifierSander J. Zwart: 0000-0002-5091-1801
cg.creator.identifierSeifu Tilahun: 0000-0002-5219-4527
cg.creator.identifierOlufunke Cofie: 0000-0002-2092-4679
cg.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1002/joc.8872
cg.identifier.iwmilibraryH053744
cg.isijournalISI Journal
cg.issn1097-0088
cg.journalInternational Journal of Climatology
cg.reviewStatusPeer Review
dc.contributor.authorObahoundje, Salomon
dc.contributor.authorAkpoti, Komlavi
dc.contributor.authorZwart, Sander J.
dc.contributor.authorTilahun, Seifu A.
dc.contributor.authorCofie, Olufunke
dc.date.accessioned2025-04-25T04:41:21Z
dc.date.available2025-04-25T04:41:21Z
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/174321
dc.titleImplications of changes in water stress and precipitation extremes for cocoa production in Côte D’Ivoire and Ghana
dcterms.abstractClimate change induces high variability in drought patterns and extreme precipitation indices in rainfed cocoa farming, impacting cocoa production. This study evaluated water stress, meteorological and agricultural drought conditions, and critical extreme precipitation indices in the world's two largest cocoa-producing nations from 1981 to 2022. The results revealed a significant reduction in total annual precipitation (PRCPTOT), in the last three decades, with the greatest decline in the 1991–2000 and 2011–2022 periods. Ghana experienced the most significant reduction up to 15% (200mm/year) in the last decade, attributed to a substantial decrease in wet days number (RR1) up to 25days per year, a reduction in maximum consecutive wet days (CWD) up to 6days per year, and an increase in maximum consecutive dry days (CDD) up to 15days per year. Moreover, there was a notable decline in the Simple Daily Intensity Index (SDII), with reductions of up to 4mm/day in certain areas, contributing to increased drought frequency, severity, and duration. In the most recent decade (2011–2022), particularly during the extremely dry years of 2013 and 2015, cocoa-growing regions in Ghana (GHA) and eastern Côte d'Ivoire (CIV) experienced prolonged agricultural drought expressed by soil moisture deficit, typically extending from May to September. Additionally, large portions of central and eastern Ghana, as well as northeastern Côte d'Ivoire experienced sustained water stress, with over three consecutive months of total monthly precipitation falling below 100mm, negatively impacting cocoa productivity. The decrease in the yield in the range of 2.5% to 37% was noted in the dry years and the following years, varying according to the country depending on the severity of the drought. Sensitivity analysis highlights cocoa yield's responsiveness to drought and water stress, particularly in specific years when water stress occurred, such as 1984,1985, 1989, 1995, 1999, 2000, and 2008. Considering the observed trends in precipitation patterns and their impact on cocoa production, it is crucial to acknowledge the inherent uncertainty of future precipitation patterns due to climate change. To address this challenge effectively, our study underscores the importance of identifying and closely monitoring regions currently facing water stress, as determined by precipitation and drought indicators. Over the analysed period (1981–2022), we have noted shifts in the distribution of water-stressed areas, highlighting the dynamic nature of this issue. Consequently, we advocate for a targeted approach to implement cocoa supplementary irrigation in consistently water-stressed regions.
dcterms.accessRightsLimited Access
dcterms.available2025-04-22
dcterms.bibliographicCitationObahoundje, Salomon; Akpoti, Komlavi; Zwart, Sander J.; Tilahun, Seifu A.; Cofie, Olufunke. 2025. Implications of changes in water stress and precipitation extremes for cocoa production in Côte D’Ivoire and Ghana. International Journal of Climatology, 26p. (Online first) [doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.8872]
dcterms.extent26p.
dcterms.issued2025-04
dcterms.languageen
dcterms.licenseCopyrighted; all rights reserved
dcterms.publisherWiley
dcterms.subjectclimate change adaptation
dcterms.subjectwater stress
dcterms.subjectcocoa
dcterms.subjectprecipitation
dcterms.subjectextreme weather events
dcterms.subjectdrought
dcterms.subjectclimate variability
dcterms.subjectevapotranspiration
dcterms.subjectsoil water content
dcterms.subjectyields
dcterms.subjectstrategies
dcterms.typeJournal Article

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