Ivory Coast rains to boost size, quality of cocoa mid-crop

(Reuters) – Abundant rain interspersed with sunshine last week across most of Ivory Coast’s principal cocoa growing regions will improve the size and quality of beans in the April-to-September mid-crop, farmers and analysts said on Tuesday.

The mid-crop marketing season in the world’s top cocoa grower officially opened on April 1, and farmers said harvesting had picked up in most of regions.

The appearance of new flowers and small pods on trees coupled with current rain levels should lead to abundant output in July and August, they said.

In the western region of Soubre, in the heart of Ivory Coast’s cocoa belt, an analyst reported 51 millimetres of rainfall last week compared with 101 mm the previous week.

“The conditions are good for us to have good quality beans in the coming months, because there is much more moisture in the soil compared to last season,” said Lazare Ake, who farms near Soubre.

In the western region of Gagnoa, an analyst reported 55 mm of rain during the week, compared with 62 mm the previous week.

“There will be a lot of harvesting in the region, because large pods are now ripening,” said farmer and cooperative manager Francois Badiel.

Good growing conditions were also reported in the western regions of Meagui and Duekoue, and in southern regions of Divo, Agboville, Aboisso and Tiassale.

 In the coastal region of San Pedro, farmers said abundant rainfall that fell in the region has damaged roads, blocking access to some plantations.

“We’re starting to see abundant rains. The roads are often cut,” said Labbe Zoungrana, who farms near San Pedro.

“The trees have recovered well from the dry season. We’re now seeing lots of flowers appear, which means that we will see a late mid-crop in this zone,” he said.

In the eastern region of Abengourou, an analyst reported 42 mm of rain in the week, compared with 49 mm the previous week.

“The heat is intense during the day. That will help to conserve the beans,” said farmer and cooperative manager N’Dri Kouao, who farms in the eastern region of Niable. “Lots of growers are preparing to harvest.”