Dry winds raise concerns for Ivory Coast cocoa crops

A lack of rainfall across most of Ivory Coast's main cocoa regions combined with Harmattan winds have raised concerns about the quality of new crops, farmers said on Monday. Ivory Coast is in the dry season which runs from mid-November to March, when downpours are scarce. Farmers said they are shifting their focus from the main crop to the April-to-September mid-crop.
The Harmattan, a dusty wind from the Sahara that typically arrives between December and March, can slash cocoa output and damage the quality of beans by killing small pods and drying out the soil. Last year, strong winds caused severe damage.
In the eastern region of Abengourou, known for the good quality of its beans, farmers reported no rainfall and an increasingly strong Harmattan.
"For the past week, the Harmattan is there and it is intense," said farmer and co-operative manager N'Dri Kouao, who farms near Niable, on the border with Ghana. "What worries us is that it came late and it is unpredictable."
In the centre-west region of Daloa, which accounts for about a quarter of national cocoa output, farmers reported no rain and a strong Harmattan since Friday.
"If it becomes stronger and lasts two weeks, we will have problems with the quality in February and March," said Albert N'Zue, who farms near Daloa, adding that the dry winds could reduce volumes.