Heat Storms and Cocoa Farming in Ivory Coast

This report examines how extreme heat in 2024 affected a cocoa farming family in Dalawa, Ivory Coast, and how Reuters analyzed long-term heat wave data to describe larger, longer-lasting events as heat storms. It follows the plantation’s recovery and the broader implications for cocoa production in Ivory Coast and Ghana.

■ Climate context
- Reuters analysis of heat waves since the 1960s and the naming of heat storms
- Heat Storm Vera’s four-month impact on Dalawa and cocoa harvests

■ Farmer impact and adaptation
- A farmer’s inherited plantation, 2024 harvest losses, and family circumstances
- Differences in tree health and recovery after the heat event
- Farmers planting heat-resistant rubber and cashew alongside cocoa

Viewers interested in climate impacts on agriculture, cocoa supply, and adaptation strategies will gain a concise case-based overview. The report provides context for understanding how extreme heat affects smallholder farmers and what adaptation measures are being considered.