Jean Melaine Bitty | August 14, 2026
News Brief
Cocoa farmers in Côte d’Ivoire’s Agnéby-Tiassa region are adopting drip irrigation to cope with longer dry periods and unpredictable rainfall. One cooperative installed nearly 14 kilometres of irrigation pipes across 220 hectares of cocoa plantations, supplying water from the Bandama River. Farmers pay only maintenance costs and receive technical support to manage the system. Agricultural experts say targeted irrigation helps maintain soil moisture, protect cocoa trees from climate stress, and strengthens the resilience of small-scale farmers.
In the Agnéby-Tiassa region of Côte d’Ivoire, cocoa farmers are facing increasing challenges as rainfall patterns become less predictable. Longer dry periods and rising temperatures are affecting cocoa trees, causing leaves to yellow, flowers to fall, and threatening farmers’ harvests.
To help farmers respond to these challenges, members of the Société Nouvelle SIAT Cacao cooperative, or SN-SIAT, in Tiassalé are using a drip irrigation system to provide water directly to cocoa plants during dry periods.
The irrigation system covers the cooperative’s 220 hectares of cocoa plantations, which contain more than 230,000 cocoa trees. Nearly 14 kilometres of pipes were installed at a cost of about five million CFA francs ($8,780 US). The water used for irrigation is drawn directly from the Bandama River, which runs alongside the plantations.
The initiative was introduced under the leadership of Paul Cédric Tossavi president of the cooperative’s board of directors. He says farmers need new approaches to reduce their dependence on unpredictable rainfall.
Mr. Cédric says, “Waiting for rain today in Côte d’Ivoire means putting the future of our children at risk. With climate change, we had to find another way. Drip irrigation is no longer a luxury; it is a protection for our farms.”
Through the cooperative, farmers have access to the irrigation system while only paying maintenance costs of about 10,000 CFA francs ($17.50 US) per month. The cooperative also provides technical support to help farmers manage the system and maintain its long-term use.
For cocoa farmer Marc Kouassi, the system has changed how he manages his farm. Before adopting drip irrigation, he struggled to protect his cocoa trees during periods of intense heat and dry weather.
Mr. Kouassi says, “Before, I did not know how to save my plants from the heat, and I felt powerless. With this drip irrigation system, I learned how to manage water stress and protect my income.”
After seeing the benefits, Mr. Kouassi began sharing his experience with other farmers in the area, encouraging them to explore solutions that can help protect their farms from climate-related challenges.
Agricultural experts say that targeted irrigation can help maintain soil moisture around cocoa roots while reducing the risks associated with excessive watering. Jean-Jacques Djejdé is an agronomist at Côte d’Ivoire’s National Center for Agronomic Research. He says “ These types of solutions can support farmers in adapting to changing climate conditions.”
Yves Koné, local representative of the National Agency for Rural Development Support, says that farmer organizations play an important role in helping small-scale producers access agricultural innovations.
Mr. Koné says, “Beyond the equipment itself, training and local support are essential to ensure that farmers can use these solutions effectively and sustainably.”
As Côte d’Ivoire works to strengthen the resilience of its agricultural sector, the experience of the SN-SIAT cooperative shows how farmer organizations can help communities adapt to climate change while protecting their livelihoods.