Farmgate prices in Ivory Coast's cocoa growing regions were mixed from June 26 to 30, Coffee and Cocoa Bourse (BCC) data showed on Tuesday, as impassable, muddy roads meant fewer buyers ventured into the bush for beans.
The average price fell sharply by 65 CFA francs ($0.127) per kg to 260 in the spell in the key western town of Dale, which produces about a quarter of cocoa output in the world's top producer. One farmer there said heavy rains meant fewer buyers were trying to negotiate the muddy roads to the farms and also pushed up the cocoa's humidity levels as drying beans became difficult.
"The roads have deteriorated a lot because of the rain. Some are impassable which means we don't have as many buyers around so there's less competition for cocoa," said farmer Frederic N'Dri. "Bean humidity is high because they can't be dried properly," he added.