Abundant rains continued last week across most of Ivory Coast's main cocoa growing regions, strengthening the outlook for the April-to-September cocoa mid-crop in some areas but bad weather also caused damage in others, farmers said on Monday.

The mid-crop marketing season in the world's top grower officially opened on April 1 and farmers in most regions said the weather conditions should allow robust output into July.

Cocoa arrivals at Ivorian ports reached around 1,435,000 tonnes by May 25 since the start of the season, exporters estimated on Monday, up from 1,216,000 tonnes in the same period of the previous season.

In the western region of Issia farmers said heavy rains had damaged several cocoa plantations.

"The rains were so heavy with winds that there are some cocoa trees that have been ripped up. Other trees have also fallen on the cocoa trees on some plantations," said Ali Fofana, who farms in the outskirts of Issia.

"In June there is generally even more rain. We're afraid that this could get worse and reduce the harvest," he said.

In the western region of Gagnoa, an analyst reported 102 millimetres of rainfall, up from 79 mm the previous week.

"The rains are heavy. The flowers and some cherelles (small pods) have fallen off the trees," said Gagnoa farmer Eugene Sery.

In the western region of Bouafle, farmers said the rains had begun to damage nearly ripe pods.

"There are some pods that are starting to turn black on the trees because of the rains. It's not good. We're going to need lots of sunshine in the next weeks," said farmer and cooperative manager Amadou Sawadogo.

Similar concerns were reported in the western region of Duekoue and the southern region of Aboisso.

But farmers were optimistic in the western region of Soubre, in the heart of the cocoa belt, where an analyst reported 82 mm of rains, compared with 87 mm the previous week.

"For now everything is going well. The rains are followed with lots of sun," said Lazare Ake, who farms near Soubre. "The mid-crop will be long. There is a wave of cherelles developing well that we'll harvest in July."

In the central region of Divo, farmers reported three abundant rain showers.

"With these good rains there will be plenty of cocoa this year," said Amadou Diallo, who farms near Divo.

Good growing conditions were also reported in the southern regions of Agboville and Tiassale, in the coastal region of San Pedro and in the centre-western region of Daloa, responsible for a quarter of Ivory Coast's national output.

Source - http://af.reuters.com/