Cocoa production in Ivory Coast is expected to hit a record high of nearly 2 million tonnes this season as good weather boosts crops, according to a forecast of exporters and pod counters. Output in the main harvest is forecast at 1.4 million tonnes, with the mid crop hitting 500,000-550,000 tonnes, they said. The right mix of rain and sun has helped crops across the growing regions of the West African country, a change from last year when strong, dusty harmattan winds off the Sahara devastated crops.
"Unlike last season, this year everything is perfect. We will beat all production records this year," the director of a European export company in Abidjan said. Crops in cocoa plantations in the south-west, west and west-central regions appeared strong, according to a Reuters' witness who toured 19 plantations.