Rains to improve Ivory Coast cocoa mid-crop

Rains fell across most of Ivory Coast's main cocoa growing regions last week as the world's top producer emerged from a particularly harsh dry season that farmers said on Monday would delay the start for the April-to-September mid-crop harvest. Ivory Coast has seen several weeks of increased rainfall and more wet weather conditions are expected in April.
"From next month the rains will be abundant and regular in the southern half of the country," said an Abidjan-based agrometeorologist, who asked not to be named.
Cocoa arrivals at Ivorian ports reached around 1,245,000 tonnes by March 22, according to exporters' estimates, up from 1,197,000 tonnes during the same period of last season.
However, dry conditions and a harsh Harmattan weather phenomenon have hindered mid-crop development. The International Cocoa Organisation is forecasting Ivorian output this season at 1.72 million tonnes, down slightly from last season's record harvest of around 1.74 million.
In the southern region of Divo, farmers said they received two heavy showers mixed with sunshine.
"Most of the pods are large which leads us to believe that the first beans will be of good quality," said Amadou Diallo, who farms on the outskirts of Divo.
"The mid-crop will be long and abundant here. Given the number of cherelles (small pods) and flowers on the trees, we think there will be plenty of cocoa from May through August at least," he said.
In the western region of Soubre, in the heart of the cocoa belt, an analyst reported 29 millimetres of rainfall last week, compared with none the previous week.
"There are lots of cherelles and small pods developing right now, meaning there will be lots of harvesting from June," said Soubre farmer Salam Kone.
Good growing conditions were also reported in western region of Duekoue and in southern regions of Aboisso, Agboville and Tiassale.
In the centre-western region of Daloa, which produces a quarter of Ivory Coast's national output, farmers reported two abundant showers.
"The farmers are a bit disappointed. Right now there is very little on the trees. There won't be significant harvesting until June due to the dry weather which caused tree fatigue," said Attoungbre Kouame, who farms in the outskirts of Daloa.
Farmers in the coastal region of San Pedro were also pessimistic.
"It's not raining everywhere. Many trees are bare. The mid-crop won't start soon and it will be weak," said farmer Labbe Zoungrana.