Above-average rain across most of Côte d’Ivoire’s Cocoa-growing regions last week could cause disease and damage the first beans of the October-to-March main crop in some areas, farmers said on Monday.
In the main growing region of Soubre, 276.4mm of rain fell last week while the average is only 17.7mm. It is too much rain, bemoaned one farmer, Alfred Koua, according to a Reuters report. Koua, who has a Cocoa farm in the region, said, “We do not need this amount of water now. It can bring black pod disease.”
Not everyone is unhappy, however. In eastern parts of the country, farmers have experienced only a moderate increase in rainfall and are optimistic about their yields.
- Côte d’Ivoire is in the midst of a rainy season that runs from April to mid-November. The world’s top cocoa producer is in the midst of a rainy season.
- Farmers are reluctant to sell right away as they were expecting the government to announce a higher market price.
- Average weekly temperatures ranged between 23.7 and 25.7 degrees Celsius.
Photo source: jbdodane