Sunny spells in most of Ivory Coast last week were expected to boost the main cocoa crop in the world's top producer, farmers said on Monday.
A drop in rainfall at the beginning of the November to February dry season has lessened the threat of black pod disease, farmers said, though some light rain has maintained a good level of soil moisture.
"With some rain every week, we think the trees won't suffer from the dry season and the quality will be good by the end of the main crop season," Arsène Yobouet, who farms in the western region of Soubre.
According to recent report, the main cocoa crop, which runs from October to March, is expected to hit a record 1.7 million tonnes, up from 1.5 million tonnes last season.
Rainfall in Soubre was 15.3 millimetres last week, 2.9 millimetres below the five-year average, according to data collected by Reuters.
Rainfall in Divo region was 15.6 millimetres, 1.3 millimetres below the five-year average.
Favourable Weather
“The weather will help the season last and there will be less diseases on the trees," said Albert N’Zue, who farms in Daloa, where rainfall was 11.9 millimetres, 2.5 millimetres above the five-year average.
Rainfall in eastern of Abengourou was 24.6 millimetres, 5.1 millimetres above the five-year average.
Rainfall in southern region of Agboville was 18.6 millimetres, 1.7 millimetres below the five-year average.
Rainfall in the central regions of Bongouanou was at 18 millimetres, 8 millimetres above average. Rainfall in the central region of Yamoussoukro was at 27.9 millimetres, 18.2millimetres above average.
In the western Man region, rainfall was 8.1 millimetres, 1.5 millimetres below average.
Average temperatures in the cocoa-growing regions ranged from 26.38 to 28.57 degrees Celsius.
News by Reuters, edited by ESM. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
