Rains boost Ivorian 2011-12 main cocoa crop

Good rains with average spells of sunshine last week in Ivory Coast's cocoa growing regions may strengthen the forthcoming 2011/12 main cocoa crop in western regions, farmers said on Monday. But black pod fungal disease was spreading and threatening crops in the east, they said.
The main cocoa crop harvest for 2011/12 is expected to officially start in October after a banner 2010/11, and farmers said they were hoping for more sunshine to boost the size and the quality of the first beans. In the eastern region of Abengourou, analyst reported 37 millimetres of rains, compared with 7 mm the previous week and farmers said they were concerned by the spread of black pod disease on trees.
"We have noticed that many pods have turned black on the trees," said Joseph Amani, who farms in the outskirts of Abengourou, known for the good quality beans grown in the area. "There will be some crop losses. Some farmers have begun spraying their trees but we don't know if that will solve the (black pod) problem," he said. In the south-eastern region of Aboisso, analyst reported 16.6 mm of rainfall compared with 37.8 millimetres the previous week. Farmers said the reported number of cases of black pod disease at area plantations was on the rise. "The disease is destroying pods. Many farmers did not spray their plantations this year," said farmer Etienne Yao. "The volume of harvested beans will be lower in October because of the disease," he said.
In the western region of Soubre, at the heart of the cocoa belt, analysts reported 60 mm of rain compared with 9 mm the week before. Farmers said downpours and the average sun spells would help crops grow larger compared with the previous season. "The moisture level is good. There are many tiny pods on trees, if there is sun in coming weeks we could have an abundant harvest extending through December," said farmer Lazare Ake who farms near Soubre. He said some farmers had started harvesting.
In the centre-west region of Daloa, farmers reported two rains that could boost the size of beans from this month. "The main crop will be abundant because we have had enough rain. All we need now is a lot of sunshine to enable us dry the beans which will be harvested from next week," said farmer Marcel Aka.