Rainfall needed for cocoa crop

Dry weather in most of Ivory Coast’s cocoa-growing regions last week could affect the development of the Aprilto-September midcrop, farmers said.

Dry weather in most of Ivory Coast’s cocoa-growing regions last week could affect the development of the April-to-September midcrop, farmers said on Monday.

The world’s top cocoa producer is in the midst of the dry season, which runs from November to late February.

Harmattan winds sweep in sand from the Sahara, which can ravage cocoa pods and sap soil moisture, leading to smaller beans.

Farmers said the Harmattan was mild this week and that there were many flowers and pods on trees.

They said high soil moisture content was sustaining trees through the dry season, but more rain was needed to help the midcrop develop.

Supply from the bush had started to drop, the farmers said.

In the western region of Soubre, farmers complained about the heat and lack of rain.

“The past two weeks have been very hot. We need rain to protect the flowers and pods,” said Salame Kone, who farms on the outskirts of Soubre.

“We hope it will rain this week,” he said.

Data collected by Reuters showed that rainfall in Soubre, including the regions of San Pedro and Sassandra, was at 0.7mm last week, 2.9mm below the five-year average.

In the centre-western region of Daloa, which produces a quarter of national output, farmers said the midcrop would be promising if the dry season was mild.

“Trees have not been damaged yet because the drought isn’t strong. If it rains well this week or next week, we think it will be okay,” said Raphael Kouame, who farms near Daloa.

Data showed that rainfall in Daloa, which includes the region of Bouafle, was at 0.2mm, 1.6mm below average.

No rain fell in the eastern region of Aboisso and in the central region of Bongouanou last week.

In most other cocoa-growing regions, rainfall was below 1mm.