Abidjan, Ivory Coast – Cocoa farmers across Ivory Coast, the world’s largest producer of the commodity, are calling for more consistent rainfall to improve the quality and size of beans in the ongoing mid-crop season running from March to August.

Although the West African nation is currently in its official rainy season (April to mid-November), rainfall was below average in most cocoa-growing regions last week.

Farmers say the drier conditions are not yet threatening the overall health of trees, which carry a good mix of small, medium, and large pods, but additional moisture is urgently needed to support bean development for the peak harvesting period between May and July.

In the west-central region of Daloa and central areas such as Bongouanou and Yamoussoukro, where rainfall was significantly below the five-year average, farmers noted that the current heat is helping already-harvested beans dry well. However, they stressed that young and developing pods require steady rain.

“It’s very hot. The beans are well dried, but the trees need enough rain for the rest of the mid-crop season,” said Albert N’Zue, a farmer near Daloa, where only 9.7 mm of rain fell last week — 11.9 mm below average.

In contrast, the western region of Soubre and eastern region of Abengourou received above-average rainfall last week. Farmers in these areas, along with those in southern districts like Agboville and Divo (where rains were below average), stressed the need for abundant and regular precipitation.

“We need plenty of steady rain to grow large, high-quality beans,” said Kouassi Kouame, a farmer near Soubre, which recorded 28.6 mm of rain (6.2 mm above average).

Weekly average temperatures across the country ranged between 29°C and 33.2°C (84°F to 92°F). Farmers remain generally optimistic, noting that harvesting has started to pick up and that cloudy skies suggest more rain could arrive in the coming weeks.

Cocoa production in Ivory Coast is highly sensitive to weather patterns, and the mid-crop (also known as the “light crop”) typically accounts for 20–30% of the country’s annual output.

Stronger rainfall in the coming weeks will be critical for determining the final size and quality of this season’s beans, with potential implications for global cocoa supply and prices.

Abuja, Nigeria – The Nigerian government has introduced a sweeping import ban on 17 categories of goods from countries outside the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in a major policy shift designed to protect local industries and promote regional trade.

The prohibition, signed by Finance Minister Wale Edun and effective from April 1, 2026, forms part of Nigeria’s revised 2026 Fiscal Policy Measures and Tariff Amendments.

It specifically targets goods originating from non-ECOWAS nations while allowing freer trade within the West African bloc. A 90-day grace period has been granted to importers who had already opened Form ‘M’ and entered into irrevocable trade agreements before the effective date.

Affected Products

The revised import prohibition list includes the following key items:

Live or dead birds, including frozen poultry

Pork/beef and related meat products

Bird eggs (except hatching eggs for breeding/research)

Refined vegetable oil (with limited exceptions)

Cane or beet sugar and flavoured sucrose

Cocoa butter, powder and cakes

Tomatoes, tomato paste and concentrates

Sugary and flavoured non-alcoholic beverages

Bagged cement

Medicaments (pharmaceutical products) and waste pharmaceuticals

NPK fertilisers

Soaps and detergents

Corrugated paper, cartons and boxes

Certain hollow glass bottles

Flat-rolled iron or steel products (corrugated)

Ballpoint pens and refills

In addition, the government introduced a 2% “green tax” surcharge on motor vehicles with engine capacities between 2,000cc and 3,999cc, and those above 4,000cc.

Strategic Objectives

The measures are intended to boost domestic production, reduce reliance on foreign imports, conserve foreign exchange, and strengthen intra-African trade under the ECOWAS framework and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). By restricting imports from outside the region, Nigeria aims to create a larger market for locally manufactured goods and encourage investment in agriculture, manufacturing, and pharmaceuticals.

The policy comes shortly after the government announced tariff reductions on certain items such as cars, palm oil, and sugar, signalling a calibrated approach to trade liberalisation within the region while protecting strategic sectors.

This latest fiscal intervention underscores Nigeria’s determination to reindustrialise its economy and reduce its historically high dependence on imported consumer goods.

An economist at the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has warned that the ongoing Middle East crisis could trigger a surge in inflation in Ghana, as rising global energy prices begin to ripple through the domestic economy.

In an interview with Xinhua, economist Leslie Dwight Mensah said the impact of the conflict is already being felt through higher fuel and transportation costs, placing additional financial strain on households and businesses.

“With the spike in energy prices worldwide due to the Middle East conflict, welfare will decline and people will be poorer than they otherwise would be without this crisis,” Mensah said.

Rising Costs and Inflationary Pressure

Mensah noted that energy costs are among the most significant expenses for both households and businesses, second only to food for households and wages for firms, making the current surge particularly concerning.

He warned that increased fuel prices will raise the cost of electricity generation in countries like Ghana that rely partly on fossil fuels, leading to higher tariffs for consumers and increased production costs for businesses.

“In many industries, energy is the number two cost item after payroll,” he explained. “It’s going to hit production costs, squeeze output, and ultimately reduce profits.”

According to Mensah, these pressures are likely to feed directly into inflation, creating broader macroeconomic challenges.

“This may spark a surge in inflation, which will in turn put pressure on interest rates,” he said. “Borrowing costs could rise, affecting the private sector.”

Broader Economic Risks

The economist cautioned that sustained inflation could have a cascading effect on Ghana’s economy, including reduced investment and lower consumer spending.

“Higher interest rates will undermine investment and private consumption, and this situation can ultimately be negative for economic growth,” he added.

Mensah also pointed to growing pressure on the government to intervene, warning that such measures could strain public finances if not carefully managed.

Government Response and Policy Options

The Ghanaian government recently announced a temporary measure to absorb part of the increase in petroleum prices for one month. Mensah described the move as “prudent” because it is time-bound and offers short-term relief to households and businesses.

However, he emphasized that interventions must be targeted to remain sustainable.

“A well-designed targeted intervention would serve as a blueprint for responding to such a crisis in the future,” he said.

At the same time, Mensah cautioned that excessive government protection could discourage necessary behavioral changes in energy consumption.

“These crises should elicit a behavioral response from consumers to be more efficient. But when government provides substantial protection, it mutes that response,” he explained.

Call for Structural Reforms

Looking beyond immediate measures, Mensah urged Ghana to strengthen its domestic petroleum production capacity to improve supply security during global disruptions.

He also called for increased investment in renewable energy, arguing that long-term reliance on fossil fuels leaves economies vulnerable to external shocks.

“The world cannot continue depending on fossil fuels all the time,” he said, adding that Ghana should sustain fiscal discipline to create space for renewable energy investments.

Outlook

As global energy markets remain volatile, the economist stressed that the duration of the crisis will determine the depth of its impact.

“If this persists for long, the impact will get bigger and last longer,” Mensah warned.