ABIDJAN: Increased rainfall and abundant sunshine across most of Ivory Coast's main growing regions have increased optimism among growers following a turbulent start to mid-crop harvesting, farmers and analysts said on Monday.
While the majority of traders and exporters expect an abundant April-to-September mid-crop, harvesting got off to a slow start after dry, hot conditions at the beginning of the year caused many flowers and small pods to wither on the trees.
Farmers and exporters complained last week that undersized cocoa beans are hampering purchases, leading some cooperatives to shut down amid violations of the government's guaranteed minimum price for farmers.
They said the bulk of beans harvested failed a government-set maximum bean count the measure of bean size of 120 beans per 100 grammes for export.
Growers on Monday said quality varied from region to region.
In the western region of Soubre, at the heart of the cocoa belt, farmers reported regular rains throughout the week.
"We had at least five showers and sunshine. It's good for the trees. The beans going out now are big. Sometimes we're finding 110 (beans per 100g)," said Lazare Ake, who farms on the outskirts of the town of Soubre.
In the southeastern region of Aboisso, farmers reported four abundant rains mixed with sunshine.
"It rained a lot here. It's good for the end of the mid-crop. When we look at the plantations, we know there won't be abundant cocoa after June because there are few small pods," said Aboisso farmer Etienne Yao.
"But it won't stop abruptly. There will still be a bit of cocoa until the end of the mid-crop," he said.
Similar growing conditions were reported in the western regions of Duekoue and Gagnoa and in the southern regions of Divo, Agboville and Tiassale.
The centre-western region of Daloa, responsible for around a quarter of Ivory Coast's national output and the western region of Bouafle each saw three abundant showers.
"The soil moisture content is very high right now. We'll have lots of good quality cocoa in June," said Daloa farmer Attoungbre Kouame.
"The cooperatives and lots of farmers haven't gathered as much cocoa as last season. The mid-crop won't be good this year due to the harsh dry season at the beginning of the year," he said.
In Abengourou, along the eastern border with neighbouring Ghana, an analyst reported 73 mm of rainfall, up from 19 mm the previous week.
"The heavy rains have started to fall. We hope to have big beans next month," said Abengourou farmer Michel Koffi.
In the coastal region of San Pedro, which had struggled with a lack of rainfall in the early stages of the mid-crop, farmers reported a second straight week of abundant showers.
"The trees are recovering their green foliage because the climate has improved. But we're only expecting cocoa around the month of August," said local farmer Labbe Zoungrana.
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