Some of my early college course work involved economics. Though I took it with the intention of studying business, it really opened my eyes to why certain things in history happened the way they did. Cote d'Ivoire has a rich economic history utilizing its natural resources, peoples skills, and international trade.
The primary industry in Ivory Coast is agriculture. This would be the oldest industry in the region as the ancestors were hunters and gatherers. As time went by cattle and poultry were domesticated and plants selected to grow. Along the rivers and the oceans coast fish are still harvested. 3 out of every 5 Ivoirian's work in the agriculture field. Local plants like yams, grains like maze and rice and vegetables help feed the nation. Though the jungle is much depleted, there is still a logging industry which fuels local wood crafts as well as the making of farm implements. The primary national crop is cocoa.
http://www.commodityonline.com/news/Cote d’Ivoire is the world’s largest cocoa grower. Cocoa is the main ingredient in our beloved chocolate, has seen unprecedented increase in demand particularly in China and South East Asia as their middle classes have grown. The cocoa industry has been rocked in the past by its sensitivity to server weather patterns and the civil and political unrest which have affected Cote d’Ivoire off and on since 1999. Interestingly, the cocoa plant is not indigenous to Africa, but was brought over by traders from South America and the Caribbean much like the potatoes of Ireland.
http://foodmuseum.typepad.com/food_museum_blog/food__politics/Before cocoa was king the Slave trade took its tool upon the people. The primary slave trade routs pulled directly through Ivory Coast to Ghana to the new world. Before that during the time or the Arab invasions they pulled north east wards through the desserts. Later as European colonization took place plantations were built many Africans were enslaved in the region itself. There is still a presence of slave and forced child labor within Cote d’Ivoire which corrupt government officials have turned a blind eye to.
Another major trade rout of the region was the Gold trade rout. During the hay day of the industry gold was traded to Rome and Egypt and beyond. And lest we forget the name of the land, Ivory! The great African Elephants lent their tusks to the royal halls and yester year. Unfortunately, the African Elephants population is depleted to the point where it is not healthy for the population to be harvested even for artistic and religious purposes.
https://animalonstamps.wordpress.com/category/ivory-coast/Ivory Coast cocoa returning
Anonymous, Ivory Coast cocoa returning. Edmonton Journal. April 14th 2011.Postmedia Network. April 14th. 2011. Accessed June 2, 2015
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Ivory Coast Cocoa Crop. New York Times (1923-Current file) 16 Sep 1985. Accessed June 3rd, 2015
http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/docview/111234945/pageviewPDF/3BEE9ED91E5B410FPQ/1?accountid=12085
Kindersle, Dorling. Fincial Times World Desk Reference- Ivory coast. 2011. Accessed June 2nd , 2015
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Antiquities Department United Nations. The Central Slave and Ivory Trade Route. © UNESCO World Heritage Centre 1992-2015. Accessed June 3rd, 2015
http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/2095/
Ivory Coast. (2008). In Philip's world factbook 2008-2009. London, United Kingdom: Philip's. Accessed June 2nd, 2015
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Reader, John. A Biography of the Continent Africa. 1997. Vintage Books.
