Ivory Coast's main cocoa growing regions received abundant rain last week, but farmers in some areas worried that cool temperatures and cloud cover could hamper development heading into the October-to-March main crop. The world's top cocoa producer is wrapping up a record 2013/14 harvest with exporters estimating current arrivals at around 1,760,000 tonnes by September 7.
World prices have risen steadily since the beginning of the year on expectations of a global supply shortfall this season. The second month contract on ICE climbed to $3,300 in August, the highest level for the second month since May 2011. However, the International Cocoa Organisation last month revised its forecast for the global cocoa balance from a deficit of 75,000 tonnes to a surplus of 40,000 tonnes. ICE December cocoa fell $28 or 0.9 percent to $3,074 a tonne on Monday. Liffe December cocoa futures eased 7 pounds or 0.4 percent to 1,976 pounds a tonne.
Ivorian farmers said the flowers and small pods that will develop into the cocoa harvested in October and November are already on the trees, and weather this month will be crucial to determining the size and duration of the harvest. In the western region of Soubre, in the heart of the Ivorian cocoa belt, an analyst reported 35 millimetres of rainfall in the spell, compared with 45 mm the previous week. "The main crop is looking good. There are already lots of large pods on the trees. By the end of this month we'll be harvesting," said Salam Kone, who farms in the outskirts of Soubre.
Similar growing conditions were reported in the western regions of Daloa and Gagnoa, and in the southern regions of Tiassale and Agboville. "We had three heavy showers last week," said Attoungbre Kouame, who farms in the region of Daloa, which produces a quarter of Ivory Coast's national output. "We expect plenty of beans from November. But there must not be too much moisture this month or we could see an appearance of black pod disease," he said.
In the western region of Duekoue, farmers reported heavy rains and overcast skies. "There's too much rain and no sunshine. There is a big risk of black pod on plantations that haven't applied chemical treatments," said farmer and co-operative manager Amara Kone. In the southern region of Divo, farmers complained of cool temperatures. "If that continues, the flowers and small pods that should be ready in December and January won't be able to resist," said Amadou Diallo, who farms near Divo. Farmers warned of similar risks in the coastal region of San Pedro. "The cool weather is causing flowers to fall from the trees. Right now it's not catastrophic. But we need sunshine," said farmer Labbe Zoungrana, adding that harvesting should begin on time next month.