Rain in parts of Ivory Coast's cocoa-growing regions last week could aid the April-to-September mid-crop if it continues, farmers said on Monday. The cocoa season in the world's top producer opened on October 1 and is currently going through the November-March dry season, when low rainfall can impact development.
Farmers in certain areas said plantations were full of flowers and small pods, but that good rainfall would be needed every 10 days in February to ensure an abundant mid-crop harvest in April or May. "It is important for us to have rain in February to nurture the small pods and for harvests to be abundant," said Amadou Diallo, who farms in the southern region of Divo.
"Thunder rumbled last night and the air has cooled. We think there will be rain this week," he said. In the southern region of Agboville, farmers said showers have helped flowers develop into small pods. "These rain spells are giving us hope the mid-crop beans will be of high quality," said Vincent Yavo, who farms in Agboville.
Similar growing conditions were found in the southern regions of Aboisso and Tiassale, as well as in the western regions of Duekoue and Gagnoa. Not everywhere benefited. No rain fell in the western region of Soubre, the heart of the cocoa belt, though farmers said that flowers remained and that the crop should be fine if rain comes in February.
In the eastern region of Abengourou, known for the quality of its cocoa beans, farmers said flowers would fall off trees if no rain fell in the next 10 days, which would reduce the size of the mid-crop. "There is a slight Harmattan, and if it doesn't rain enough many flowers will dry and fall," said N'Dri Kouao, who farms near Niable.
Harmattan winds blow dust down from the Sahara that can sap soil moisture and damage pods. Similar weather was reported in the centre-western region of Daloa, which produces a quarter of Ivory Coast's national output.
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