ABIDJAN: Hot, dry weather in Ivory Coast's main cocoa-growing regions last week could delay the April to September mid-crop, though rainfall was sufficient elsewhere, farmers said on Monday.
Ivory Coast, the world's top cocoa producer, is approaching the end of the mid-November to March dry season.
At least one downpour a week until the end of the month will be required to encourage flowering, which then develops into small pods. In the coastal region of San Pedro, farmers bemoaned the lack of rainfall for the past few weeks.
"It is hot and there is dryness in the bush," said Labbe Zoungrana, who farms on the outskirts of San Pedro. "The mid-crop will start late because of the intense heat and the lack of rainfall, which has killed lots of flowers on trees."
In the western region of Soubre, in the heart of the cocoa belt, an analyst reported no rainfall in the period, compared with 14 millimetres the previous week.
"There needs to be a regularity in the rainfall in the last few months. Otherwise there will be too many losses and the pods will be small at the start of the mid-crop," said Lazare Ake, who farms near Soubre. Similar dry growing conditions were reported in the western region of Daloa, which produces a quarter of Ivory Coast's output.
"There's not enough water in the soil. If the strong heart follows the rain, the mid-crop will be very short this year compaired with last season," said Marcel Aka, who farms near Daloa.
"Some young plants are dead and there is a risk of a delay to the harvest." However, good growing conditions were reported in the southern region of Divo.
"The weather is good and the plants look good. Many flowers continue to transform into little pods," said Amadou Diallo, who farms on the outskirts of Divo. "If it rains abundantly in the next months, the quality will be guaranteed from the start of harvesting." Farmers were also optimistic in the western region of Duekoue. "We have a good mixture of rain and sunshine.
The buds are not in danger and we are counting on early harvesting from next month," said farmer Amara Kone.
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