Autonomous District of Goh-Djiboua

The Autonomous District of Gôh-Djiboua has Gagnoa as its capital. It covers the southern and central-southern parts of the country, and includes the regions of Gôh and Lôh-Djiboua. It is surrounded to the north by the Districts of Sassandra-Marahoué, the Yamoussoukro region and the District des Lacs; to the east and south by the District des Lagunes; and to the west by the District du Bas-Sassandra. It is the only coastal district in Côte d’Ivoire without direct access to the sea. To the south, it shares the Nyouzomou, Tandia and Makey lagoons with the neighbouring District des Lagunes. Agriculture remains the mainstay of its economy. The geographical location of the Goh-Djiboua District, established in a forested area, its homogeneous relief, the density of its hydrographic network and its ferralitic soil are all natural assets that have favoured its agricultural development with the coffee-cocoa binomial. Very early on, Goh-Djiboua was able to develop other cash crops such as rubber and palm oil, but above all food crops, which are essential to meeting the challenge of food self-sufficiency. Goh-Djiboua is an important granary for the country, producing rice, cassava and plantains. Dance and textiles are a fine illustration of the cultural richness of this District. The delicacy of the loincloths and their expressive finery illustrate the tradition and mastery of the art of textile making and weaving by the people of Goh-Djiboua.