Ivory Coast cocoa regions received little or no rain last week as the dry season took hold, though downpours earlier this year have helped soil moisture levels, farmers said on Monday. The dry season in the world's top cocoa producer runs from mid-November to March, bringing with it the threat of the Harmattan winds that carry Saharan sands and can damage crops.
But farmers across the cocoa regions were optimistic for a good crop. "We see the approach of the drought with a lot of sun but the rains will strengthen the soil moisture and help the trees," said Etienne Yao, who farms in the eastern region of Aboisso.
Data collected by Reuters showed zero rainfall last week in Soubre region in the heart of the cocoa belt, 14.7 mm below average though some farmers said it had rained in places on Sunday night. "We are having a very good season. We still need one rain a week this month so picking is plentiful and the quality is good next year," said Lazare Ake, who farms on the outskirts of Soubre.
In the eastern region of Aboisso, which includes Abengourou, farmers said the weather last week bodes well for the crop. Data collected by Reuters showed 2.3 mm of rainfall there, 9.9 mm below average. Data collected by Reuters showed no rain in Daloa, 5.6 mm below average. Rainfall last week in the southern region of Divo was at 0.1 millimetres, 11.2 mm below average. Rainfall in the southern region of Agboville was 2.8 millimetres, 10.8 below average.