Abundant rains during the second week of June in Ivory Coast's main cocoa growing regions provided good growing conditions for the next October-March main crop, analysts and farmers said on Friday.
In the southern town of Divo, agricultural researcher Alexis Assiri who specialises in cocoa said the rains would help prepare the cocoa trees, some of which have begun flowering for the main crop season.
"The rain which has fallen this month will help the trees for the main crop flowering. There are still mid crop pods on the trees but they don't need much water," he said.
Many (April-September) mid crop pods are now in the late stages of their development and are less sensitive to the climate but delicate flowers need adequate rain and sunshine to ensure they do not shrivel up and get blown off the trees.