Dry, hot conditions continued last week in some of Ivory Coast's principal cocoa growing regions, raising fears among farmers of a drop in output from the upcoming April-to-September mid-crop. However growing conditions elsewhere in the country, the world's top cocoa grower, were good. The West African nation is in its dry season, which runs from mid-November to March and generally features sporadic rain.
Farmers say plantations need one significant shower per week from January to late February to ensure good bean development and prevent a quality drop in the first months of the mid-crop. Liffe cocoa futures held near 2-1/2 year highs on Monday, as a possible return of El Nino weather conditions coupled with solid global demand growth for chocolate products renewed worries about a global deficit.
In the central western region of Daloa, responsible for a quarter of Ivory Coast's national output, farmers said no rain had fallen for a sixth consecutive week. "Many flowers have turned yellow and dropped off the trees because there is no moisture and it is very hot," said Attoungbre Kouame, who farms in the outskirts of Daloa. "Not only will the mid-crop start late here, but there will be fewer beans than last season," he said.
In the coastal region of San Pedro, farmers said they were also worried by the dry conditions. "The soil is dry. Many leaves are drying on the trees. We won't have a good mid-crop harvest this year because there aren't enough cherelles (small pods)," said San Pedro farmer Tchorna Silue.
In the eastern region of Abengourou, known for the quality of its beans, farmers reported one light shower with none the previous week. "It's better than nothing. It helps the trees resist the drought," said Lambert Aka, who farms near Abengourou. In the western region of Soubre, an analyst reported 5 mm of rain last week, down from 22 mm the previous week.
"There are now many medium-size pods on the trees. Harvesting should begin towards the end of March. We'll have plenty of beans, like last year," said Soubre farmer and co-operative manager Emile Konan. Conditions were improving in the western regions of Meagui, Duekoue, Man and Gagnoa, where analysts reported 13 mm of rain.
Source - http://www.brecorder.com/
