Daloa

Daloa, the principal city of the Haut-Sassandra region in central-western Côte d’Ivoire, lies within one of the country’s traditional Robusta coffee-growing zones, historically linked to both coffee and cocoa expansion during the colonial and post-independence periods. The area is characterized by gently undulating terrain at elevations of about 250–350 meters above sea level, with ferrallitic and lateritic soils that are moderately fertile and suitable for perennial cash crops. Daloa experiences a humid tropical climate, with average annual rainfall ranging from 1,400 to 1,800 mm, distributed across two rainy seasons, and consistently warm temperatures that favor Robusta coffee growth.

Coffee cultivation around Daloa is dominated by smallholder farmers, typically operating plots of less than one hectare. Coffee is rarely grown as a monocrop; instead, it is integrated into diversified farming systems that include cocoa, maize, rice, cassava, plantain, and increasingly cashew or rubber. Within these systems, coffee often plays a secondary role, receiving fewer inputs and less intensive management than cocoa. Most coffee trees in the Daloa area are old and low-yielding, a legacy of limited replanting and restricted access to improved Robusta varieties, fertilizers, and extension services.

Production practices are largely traditional and rain-fed, relying on manual labor and natural soil fertility. Shade from forest remnants or companion crops is common, which can help protect coffee plants from heat stress but may also reduce yields if not properly managed. The main harvest season generally runs from November to February or March, following the major rains. Coffee cherries are harvested by hand and processed mainly through the dry (natural) method, involving sun-drying before hulling. Farmers typically sell their coffee to local traders, cooperatives, or regional buyers, with Daloa serving as an important collection and transit hub due to its central location and road connections to Abidjan and other producing areas.

Over the past decades, coffee production in Daloa has declined in economic importance, mirroring national trends. Cocoa has become the dominant cash crop because of higher profitability, stronger institutional support, and more reliable market structures. Additional constraints include price volatility, aging plantations, soil degradation, and climate variability, which affect flowering, yields, and bean quality. As a result, many farmers have converted coffee plots to cocoa or other crops, reducing the total area under coffee.

Despite these challenges, coffee remains part of the agricultural heritage and livelihood strategy of the Daloa region. It provides supplementary income for farming households and contributes to crop diversification, helping to reduce dependence on a single commodity. Within Côte d’Ivoire’s broader Robusta coffee sector, Daloa continues to play a supporting role as a production and trading center, reflecting the transition of coffee from a major export crop to a complementary component of the country’s diversified agricultural economy.