San Pedro

San Pedro is one of the most important agricultural and commercial zones in southwestern Côte d’Ivoire and a historic center of the country’s coffee and cocoa economy. As a coastal port city and surrounding production basin, San Pedro has played a strategic role in the export of coffee from inland forest regions since the mid-20th century.

The wider San Pedro area lies within the humid forest zone, characterized by high rainfall (1,600–2,200 mm annually), warm temperatures, and deep, fertile forest soils. Elevations are generally low to moderate (50–300 meters), conditions that strongly favor Robusta coffee (Coffea canephora), the dominant coffee type cultivated in the region. The climate supports vigorous plant growth, though good shade management is essential to reduce stress from heat and heavy rains.

Coffee production around San Pedro is dominated by smallholder farmers, often operating mixed farms where coffee is intercropped with cocoa, oil palm, plantain, and food crops. Traditional agroforestry systems are common, using forest shade trees to protect coffee plants and maintain soil fertility. Harvesting is done manually, and post-harvest handling mainly involves dry processing, which is typical for Robusta production in Côte d’Ivoire.

In recent decades, coffee cultivation in the San Pedro zone has declined as many farmers shifted toward cocoa, which offers higher and more stable incomes. Challenges such as aging coffee trees, limited farm investment, and price volatility have also affected production. Nevertheless, San Pedro remains highly significant due to its export infrastructure, and with plantation rehabilitation, improved Robusta varieties, and better market incentives, coffee continues to have potential as part of the region’s diversified agricultural economy.