Farmgate prices in Ivory Coast's cocoa areas changed little between August 8-14, according to the Coffee and Cocoa Bourse on Wednesday, with few buyers in the bush during the between-seasons lull when beans are scarce.
In the town of Fresco in the southern region of Divot, where average prices rose five CFA francs per kg to 260, one farmer said the few buyers in the bush were stocking beans to sell them on at higher prices at the start of the 2005/06 season in October.
"The large exporters aren't around at the moment and their buyers are on holiday," said Mathurin Komai. He added that some farmers had already harvested a few KGs of the October-March main crop beans, which can be distinguished by their larger size.
"We're getting a few (main crop) beans now but just in very small quantities. Some farmers have a few kgs of them or at the most a backfill but that's all," he said, adding that their size and lack of mould was a positive sign.
In the western town of Daloa, where average prices rose 10 CFA francs per kg to 255, one farmer said only some local buyers were purchasing beans during the quiet period but added some farmers there were also now harvesting some main crop cocoa.
"There are farmers who have already gathered some pods for the main crop but we'll have to wait until September to see large quantities coming out of the bush," said Manlier Nankeen.
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