What if Côte d'Ivoire consumed its own chocolate?
In response to the question about Côte d'Ivoire's next big agro-export opportunity: The agricultural strategy pursued by Côte d'Ivoire since independence deserves to be shared with African nations seeking to launch their own agrarian revolution. However, it must be complemented by a public policy for training in agricultural processing, rooted in creativity, in order to produce unique and innovative finished goods. This strategy, built around cash crops such as cocoa, coffee, and rubber, has enabled the country to become a world leader in several value chains. Côte d'Ivoire produces around 40% of the world's cocoa, and together with Ghana, the two countries account for nearly 49% of global production. But it has long relied on exporting barely processed raw materials, leaving others to capture the added value. Today, the challenge is no longer just to produce more, but to produce better and further up the value chain. The goal is no longer merely to prod...