The agricultural sector remains the backbone of Côte d’Ivoire’s economy, despite its declining share in GDP. At independence, agriculture contributed nearly 50% to the country’s GDP, but by 2024, this figure had dropped to 15.9%. However, the sector continues to play a pivotal role in employment, engaging 46% of the workforce directly. Additionally, agricultural products dominate the country’s trade surplus, accounting for 51.5% of exports in 2025.

Poverty rates are disproportionately higher in rural areas, where 54.4% of the population lives below the poverty line compared to the national average of 37.5%. Agriculture is the primary source of livelihood in these regions, yet nearly 90% of farmers fall within the lowest income decile. In the cocoa industry, a staggering 60% of farmers live below the national poverty threshold, highlighting the sector’s persistent challenges.

The Ivorian agricultural landscape is driven by cash crops and industrial farming, positioning the country as the world’s leading producer of cocoa and cashew nuts, and the third-largest producer of natural rubber. Despite these achievements, the country remains heavily reliant on imports for essential food items like cereals and fish, which are staples in urban diets. The local food production system is largely informal and fragmented, leaving smallholder farmers with limited access to markets and economic opportunities.