Abundant rainfall in most of Ivory Coast’s main cocoa growing regions last week boosted the crop while buyers flagged potential quality concerns.
The October-to-March main crop saw a growth boost, according to farmers, as wet weather hit at the tail end of its April to mid-November rainy season.
Farmers said they were able to get two harvests per month in October, and that the main crop’s harvesting would continue in November before reaching its peak in December.
Some cooperative managers told Reuters the flow of cocoa beans from the bush had increased week after week since the beginning of the month, but buyers complained that some deliveries contained mouldy beans.
Others said they have experience financing issues following a price increase to 1,800 CFA francs ($2.99) per kilogram as farmers ask them to pay for beans in advance.
Rainfall
In the western region of Soubre, the southern regions of Agboville, and the eastern region of Divo and Abengourou – where rains fell above average – farmers and cooperative members said the weather will help the crop develop well into January.
They added that it would take longer than normal to get cocoa beans out of plantations and villages as rains have damaged rural roads.
Kouassi Kouame, who farms near Soubre, said, “There are many green pods in the plantations which will gradually ripen until December.
“This main crop will be long and abundant.”
In Soubre, 45.3 millimetres of rain fell last week, 18.7 millimetres above the five-year average.
In the west-central region of Daloa, and in the central regions of Bongouanouand and Yamoussoukro, where rains were above average last week, farmers said sunny spells in the coming weeks would improve drying conditions and bean quality.
Victor Kanga, a farmer from Daloa, said, “The rains have been well spaced here and there has been enough sunshine. This will improve the quality of the beans.”
Average temperatures across the West African country ranged from 25.2 to 27.5 degrees Celsius.
Read More: Ivory Coast Cocoa Production Expected To Reach 2m Metric Tonnes
