Showers offer hope on Ivorian cocoa farms

Light, patchy rains fell in Ivory Coast's eastern and southern cocoa growing regions last week, raising hopes for output, while drought and wind continued in most other areas of the West African country. An unusually harsh dry season since November has undermined cocoa production from the world's top grower during the tail-end of the October-to-March main crop and has dimmed prospects for the April-September light crop.
"This rain is giving us hope. We're hoping there will be even more, because the cocoa is scarce here," said Pascal N'Dri, who farms in the eastern region of Abengourou. A weather analyst said some 10 mm of rain fell in Abengourou, from none the previous week.
An Abidjan-based meteorologist also said it had rained in coastal regions in the south from January 20 to 21 and that more coastal rains were expected occasionally in February before spreading elsewhere. "It will be very hot in the coming weeks. Starting in February we will have at least one rain each ten days along the coast and starting in March the rains will expand to other parts of the country," he said.
Ivory Coast's western and central areas remained dry, with farmers worried about the crop outlook. In the western region of Gagnoa, Bouafle and in central region of Yamoussoukro, farmers said no rain fell and the wind was dry. "We're depressed because there's nothing on the trees. Most of the pods have dried up and the leaves are drying and falling," said Francois Badiel, who farms near Gagnoa.
In the central region of Daloa, producing a quarter of Ivory Coast's national output, farmers said most of the region remained mostly dry and windy. "In most areas it is hot, it is not raining, and there is the harmattan," said farmer Abel Konan, referring to the seasonal harmattan wind. "This year, the drought has been persistent. We feel like the trees are suffering. The main crop is done and the farmers think there won't be much more until the end of March." In the western region of Soubre farmers reported arid conditions. "Its not raining in most areas," said farmer Koffi Kouame. "The weather is hot and dry, it isn't good."