New Delhi (Staff Correspondent): A recent study has warned that climate change is severely affecting cocoa production in West Africa, which could lead to a crisis in global chocolate supply. West Africa, which accounts for about 70 percent of the world’s cocoa production, is now facing abnormally high temperatures, droughts, diseases and unpredictable rainfall. These environmental stresses have devastated cocoa crops, resulting in a drop in production rates.
Problems increased by abnormal weather
In the past few years, cocoa producing areas in West Africa have been facing problems such as sudden rise in temperature, drought and excessive rainfall. Experts believe that if this situation continues, chocolate prices may increase further, which could prove to be a big challenge for both consumers and the chocolate industry.
Rising Cocoa Prices
Declines in cocoa production and environmental pressures have caused cocoa prices to rise significantly. These increased prices have also had a profound impact on the global chocolate industry. Regional farmers are spending extra to protect their crops, further increasing agricultural costs.
Effects of climate change
According to a new report, climate change is particularly affecting major cocoa producing countries in West Africa, such as Ivory Coast and Ghana. Increasing temperatures in these countries are causing great damage to the cocoa crop. The study found that due to climate change, temperatures in these countries are exceeding 32 degrees Celsius (89.6 Fahrenheit), which is above the ideal temperature for cocoa trees.
Research and future projections
The study, conducted by independent research group Climate Central, found that climate change over the past decade has added three additional weeks of temperatures above 32 degrees Celsius during cocoa’s main growing season between October and March. Last year, which was the hottest year on record, saw temperatures above 32°C for 42 days in almost two thirds of the analysed regions.
Read detail report at..https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168192325000139?via%3Dihub#abs0002
