Virtually no rain fell in Ivory Coast's cocoa growing regions last week, as the dusty Harmattan wind blew south with more strength than last season, raising fears of damage to the main crop, farmers said on Monday. Ivory Coast is in the dry season, when farmers hope for a milder Harmattan wind that does not dry out sensitive cocoa trees at a crucial stage before the development of pods, which will be harvested in the mid-crop from April.
The Harmattan wind sweeps down from the Sahara desert for a variable period from December to March. When it is strong, the drop in humidity can damage young flowers and small pods. Last year, it was largely beaten back by a strong West African monsoon, but this year has been much stronger. Good rains late last year have enabled a very strong start to the 2010/11 crop. "The Harmattan has been very strong in the last week. It was difficult to get out in the morning," said farmer Lazare Ake who farms near Soubre, the heart of the cocoa belt, where no rain was reported.
"It's cool and dry. If this carries on for the next couple of weeks, a lot of small pods and flowers are going to dry out and fall off, reducing the crop," said Ake. In the centre western region of Daloa, producing the quarter of Ivory Coast's national output, no rain was reported and winds were strong.
"We're praying for the Harmattan to calm down," said farmer Attoungbre Kouame. "If not, the beans from February onwards are going to be too small, which brings down the prices we get for them," said farmer Attoungbre Kouame. "The number of pods on the trees has gone down a lot. There's still some cocoa out there. But if the drought proves strong, then there's going to be a lot less by the start of the mid-crop in April." Similar growing conditions were reported in southern regions of Aboisso, Divo and Agboville, in western regions of Gagnoa and Meagui and in coastal region of San Pedro.
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