“If there aren’t heavy rains before mid-March, the losses will be huge,” said Raymond Amani, who farms near Daloa, where data collected by Reuters showed rainfall of 2.5 millimeters (mm) last week, 10.4 mm below the five-year average. In the western region of Soubre, farmers said they were confident of a good harvest in June, citing the development of small pods on trees. Harvesting for the mid-crop will start slowly next month and pick up gradually in May and June, they added. “We think it’s going to go well. But the rain can’t go missing this month,” said Salame Kone, who farms near Soubre. Data showed rainfall in Soubre was 14 mm last week, 4.2 mm above the five-year average. Similar comments and conditions were reported in the southern region of Divo, which received 14.6 mm of rain last week, 0.8 mm above the five-year average. Although rainfall was below average in the southern region of Agboville and in the eastern region of Abengourou, farmers said there was enough moisture. Temperatures over the past week ranged from 28.7 to 32.6 degrees Celsius. Source - https://www.reuters.com