By Abdullahi Lukman
Farmers in Ivory Coast are hopeful that recent rains in the central regions will boost cocoa production for the upcoming mid crop season, which runs from April to September.
The country, the world’s largest cocoa producer, has been experiencing its dry season from mid-November to March, a time when rain is typically scarce.
Farmers had initially expressed concern that the dry conditions would delay the start of the mid-crop season and strain cocoa supplies.
However, last week’s above average rainfall has alleviated these concerns.
The rains are expected to help young cocoa pods survive and improve overall tree health.
Etienne Brou, a farmer near Yamoussoukro, noted that the moisture would aid struggling cocoa trees that had become weak from the dry weather.
He said, “Trees will do better. Many cocoa trees had become weak due to lack of water.” Yamoussoukro saw 18.2 millimeters (mm) of rain, surpassing the five-year average by 11.3 mm.
Similar rainfall patterns were reported in Bongouanou, where the rain was also above average, and in Daloa, where the rain was below average but still sufficient to benefit the trees.
Farmers in Soubre and Divo, both in the western and southern regions where rainfall was below average, also reported good growing conditions, with many cherelles transforming into small pods.
Farmers from Agboville and Abengourou, where rains were above average, shared the same positive outlook.
They remain optimistic that if rains continue regularly into March, the mid crop will match last season’s yield.
“If we have good rains from March onwards, we’ll have enough beans for the mid crop,” said Kouassi Kouame, a farmer near Soubre, where only 1.2 mm of rain fell last week, 7.2 mm below average.
The weekly temperature across Ivory Coast ranged from 27.8 to 33.2 degrees Celsius, and farmers are hopeful that ongoing rainfall will continue to strengthen their crops.
