Strong rains across Ivory Coast’s central regions are expected to strengthen cocoa trees and improve growing conditions for the April-to-September mid-crop, farmers said on Monday.
Ivory Coast – the world’s top cocoa producer – is in the dry season that runs from mid-November to March when rains are scarce.
Before the above-average rains arrived, farmers said the hot weather was worrying.
They were concerned that the heat would delay the start of the mid-crop season and tighten bean supply before above-average rains struck the country's central region last week.
However, they said that now they are happy because the rain would help young pods survive.
They added that the cocoa trees needed another rain before the end of the month to improve the yield.
Etienne Brou, who farms near the central region of Yamoussoukro, said, “Trees will do better. Many cocoa trees had become weak due to lack of water.”
Farmers in the central region of Bongouanou – where rainfall was above average – and in the west-central region of Daloa – where rains were below average but farmers said the moisture level was sufficient to help cocoa trees – made similar comments.
'If We Have Good Rains'
Farmers from the western region of Soubre and the southern region of Divo, where rains were below average, and farmers from the southern region of Agboville and the eastern region of Abengourou, where rains were above average, said growing conditions remained good with plenty of cherelles turning into small pods.
Farmers in those regions added that if rains became regular from March, the mid-crop would be as abundant as last season.
Dry weather has impacted growing in the region, hurting supply of the key chocolate ingredient and driving up prices worldwide.
Speaking about the crop, Kouassi Kouame who farms near Soubre said, “If we have good rains from March onwards, we’ll have enough beans for the mid-crop.”
The weekly average temperature across Ivory Coast last week ranged from 27.8 to 33.2 degrees Celsius.
Read More: Dry Season In Ivory Coast Triggers Cocoa Shortage Fears – Farmers
