Abidjan May 29/2010 The second consecutive week of above-average rainfall in the cocoa-growing regions of Ivory Coast will improve the quality of the crop from April to mid-September, farmers said.
The world’s leading cocoa producer has a rainy season, which officially runs from April to mid-November.
Several farmers reported good soil moisture for the second week in a row. He said if the rainfall is high till the end of June, more beans will be harvested in August and September this year compared to last season.
The quantity and quality of beans is also expected to increase from August.
“In two months, the harvest will be abundant and of (high) quality because there are many medium-sized grains on the trees,” said Robert Anda, who manages the central western area of Daloa, with 30.1 millimeters (mm). Rain fell last week, 3.4 mm below the five-year average.
Rainfall was also above average in the central regions of Bongounnu and Yamusukro, with farmers reporting large quantities of beans coming out of the bush in June.
In the western Subre region, where rainfall is also above average, farmers are concerned that excess moisture will cause diseases and pests.
“The soil is very wet. With more rain, there are chances of disease,” said Kwasi Kwame, who farms near Soubre, where 58.5mm fell last week, 12.8mm below the average.
Rainfall was below average in the southern regions of Agboville and Divo as well as the eastern region of Abengoru.
Because the soil moisture is high, it is possible to take care of the crops, and the farmers have shown great appreciation for their products.
Last week, the average temperature ranged from 26.9 to 30.5 degrees Celsius.
Reporting by Loucoumane Coulibaly; Editing by Sophia Christensen and Jan Harvey
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