Abundant and regular rainfall in most of Ivory Coast's cocoa-growing regions boded well for the last stages of the April-to-September mid-crop, farmers said on Monday. The world's top cocoa producer has emerged from a three-month dry patch and entered the rainy season. Farmers said current moisture levels would lead to the development of plenty of small pods to be harvested from June onwards.
In the centre-western region of Daloa, which produces a quarter of Ivory Coast's national output, farmers said abundant rainfall in the past weeks would trigger a new wave of blossoming for the final stage of the mid-crop. "The trees have regained strength. All the crops are becoming green again," said Raphael Kouame, who farms near Daloa.
"If it rains well in April we think that in about three months there will be plenty of fruit on the trees," added Kouame. Data collected by Reuters showed that Daloa, which includes the region of Bouafle, received 72.8 mm of rainfall last week, 56.8 mm above average.
Farmers in the southern region of Divo were also upbeat. "The mid-crop is looking good. Many pods are ready to be cut now and there are also many small pods for later," said Amadou Diallo, who farms near Divo.