“Côte d’Ivoire enjoys a humid climate, with at least seven rainy months and 1,000 mm in annual rainfall. Most of the interior receives 1,000–1,500 mm annually. Moving inland toward the east, a short dry season falls in the middle of the wet season, creating an annual cycle of four seasons. Cocoa is the major cash crop. Yams, cassava, and plantains are the major staples. The contribution of agriculture to GDP declined steadily between 1960 and 1980 as the manufacturing and service sectors improved.
The population has doubled every 20 years since the country gained independence in 1960. In 2008, almost half of the population lived in urban areas. The majority of the population is engaged in agriculture. The legacy of a decade-long civil war and the projected doubling of the population by 2040–2050 complicate the government’s ability to rebuild the country and to sustainably manage its natural resource base.”
