Ivory Coast weather good for cocoa mid-crop

ABIDJAN (Reuters) - Ivory Coast's cocoa growing regions received a good mix of sun and rain last week, improving prospects for the April-to-September mid-crop harvest, farmers and analysts said on Monday.

First beans from the mid-crop are expected in May or June, later than normal after a stretch of dry, windy weather that cut volumes and hurt quality during the top world grower's October-to-March main crop.

Farmers added weather conditions from now to April would be crucial for the quality of mid-crop beans and the volume of the harvest, with at least one downpour needed per week.

"The weather is good for the trees because we see lots of flowers and the conditions are good for the flowers to become pods," said farmer Salam Kone in the western region of Soubre.

Some 14 millimeters of rain fell in the Soubre region, compared with 29 mm the week before, analysts said.

Similar growing conditions were reported in the southern region of Aboisso and in the coastal region of Sassandra where analysts reported 40.4 mm and 19 mm respectively, compared with nil in each region the week before.

In the centre-western region of Daloa, producing a quarter of Ivory Coast's national output, farmers said one abundant rain last week raised hopes of a good mid-crop from late May.

Farmers said they were expecting at least one good downpour per week mixed with sunny spells until late April to boost the size and the quality of beans.

"We need one good rain per week from now on, along with sunny spells, so that the beans are of good quality by the end of May," said farmer Attoungbre Kouame, near Daloa.

Good growing conditions were also reported in the eastern region of Abengourou, in southern regions of Divo and Agboville and in southern regions of Duekoue and Gagnoa.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ivory-coast-weather-good-cocoa-mid-crop-115734525.html

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