Cacao trees across the Sinfra department in southern Sassandra-Marahoué district, Ivory Coast, usually experience a very mild little dry season, with late July and August rainfalls sensibly contributing to the plants’ water balance.
This season, however, the trees had to tap into the water resilience accumulated throughout May and June earlier than normal to cope with the lack of rains.
A consequence of this early usage of the water resources was that this department suffered hydric stress for approximately two weeks. This has put pressure on the trees and on production, namely contributing to a low fresh setting and an increase in cherelle wilt.
Had it not been for the fairly good rains seen in the end of August and now, in September, the main crop potential here would have been seriously endangered by the dryness. However, thanks to the early resumption of rains, the potential for the main crop was preserved, but not has not increased by much in August due to poor fresh setting.
