Heavy rains during critical period of cacao cultivation hit Ghana’s yields
Heavy rainfall during the cacao flowering season is a major driver of Ghana’s recent harvest fluctuations, new research finds. A study published in September by researchers at the Harvard University Center for the Environment in the U.S. found that heavy rainfall during cacao’s flowering and early pod development is linked to significant yield decreases. The […]
Researchers from Harvard University Center for the Environment in the U.S. have discovered that heavy rainfall during the cacao flowering season has a significant impact on Ghana's recent harvest fluctuations. The study, published in September, found that heavy rainfall during cacao's flowering and early pod development is linked to substantial yield decreases.
Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire together account for approximately 60% of global cocoa production, making West Africa central to the world's chocolate supply. Cacao seeds are the primary ingredient in chocolate. The researchers, led by Anna Lea Albright, noticed a pattern when analyzing daily rainfall and temperature records during the 2024 global cacao price surge following several poor harvests in West Africa.
The study explains about two-thirds of the year-to-year variability in Ghana's production, with heavy rainfall during flowering and early pod development being the primary factors.
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