Abundant Ivory Coast rains signal promising end to cocoa mid-crop, farmers say

Above-average rainfall last week across most of Ivory Coast's main cocoa-growing regions is expected to boost the development of the April-to-September mid-crop, farmers said on Monday.

Ivory Coast, the world's top cocoa producer, has entered its April to mid-November rainy season, a period when showers are abundant and often heavy.

Farmers said that regular rainfall through May would help the development of young cherelles and small pods that will be ready to harvest in August and September, providing a boost in production at the tail end of the mid-crop.

Cloudy weather in cocoa growing regions this week suggests more rain is likely for next week, farmers said.

The western region of Soubre, the southern region of Agboville, and the eastern region of Abengourou all saw above-average rainfall, while precipitation in the southern region of Divo was below average last week.

Farmers across the regions said harvesting was picking up and noted an abundance of large pods on trees that would be ready to harvest in May and June.

"With this weather, we'll have good quality beans," said Laurent Gnaly, who farms near Soubre where 36.1 mm of rain fell last week, 17.4 mm above the five-year average.

In the centre-western region of Daloa, where rains were below average, and in the central regions of Bongouanou and Yamoussoukro, where rainfall was above average, farmers said growing conditions were improving, but supply remained tight.

"The grinders ask us for a lot of beans, but there's not much cocoa coming in from the bush," said Antoine Koffi, who farms near Yamoussoukro, which recorded 38.3 mm of rainfall last week, 16.7 mm above the average.

The weekly average temperatures ranged from 27.6 to 30.6 degrees Celsius.

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• Abundant Ivory Coast rains signal promising end to cocoa mid-crop
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