Weak rains in many of Ivory Coast's cocoa-growing areas persisted into the last 11 days of July, causing concern over the development of the coming main crop in the world's top producer, analysts said on Monday.
Agronomist Alexi Assiri based in Daloa said he thought rain was needed in the next two weeks to avoid damage to the crop.
"If we don't have rain by mid-August things will get serious," he said. "If the dry weather continues, it will have an impact on the development of pods and the size of beans which will be smaller."
Data released by the national weather service Sodexam on Monday showed rains were below a 25-year average in most cocoa regions between July 21 and July 31.
The data confirmed a prolonged dry spell in six out of nine cocoa-producing areas during the month of July, at a crucial time for the 2004-05 (October-September) main crop.
However rains were well above the 25-year average in the far south-western town of Tabou in July and also higher around Gagnoa - a key cocoa-growing region - with 138.6 millimetres during the month compared with an average of 85 millimetres.
Diallo Mamadou, a grower in the southern town of Divo, said the dry weather was already taking its toll on his plantation.
"The weather is not good as there has been no rain and the temperatures have been low. All the pods which are forming are drying out," he said. "If that continues for another month, it will give us a much smaller harvest. Even now things are not looking good," he said.