Following below average rain last week in most of Ivory Coast's main cocoa regions, more downpours are needed throughout the month to ensure the April-to-September mid-crop finishes on a strong note, farmers said on Monday.
The world's top cocoa producer is in its rainy season, which runs officially from April to mid-November. Rains are usually abundant during this period, Reuters reported.
Farmers across the West African country said the weather during this month would be crucial in determining the final size of the mid-crop.
They said plantations would not only need abundant rain throughout June, but also more sunny spells to help fight diseases and insects, which can be triggered by humid weather.
Several farmers said the amount of beans from the bush was rising.
They said they were expecting abundant downpours from this week as the sky was cloudy.
"We need a lot of rain and sunshine this month for the mid-crop to finish well," said Remi Alloba, who farms near the western region of Soubre, where 27.2 millimetres (mm) fell last week, 15.3 mm below the five-year average.
Similar comments were made by farmers in the southern regions of Agboville and Divo, and in the eastern region of Abengourou. They said plenty of fruits were developing on the trees for the last stage of the mid-crop.
In the centre-western region of Daloa and in the central regions of Bongouanou and Yamoussoukro, where rain was below average, farmers said they expected abundant rain from this week.
"The weather is very cloudy and it is hot; we feel it is going to rain a lot. It will be good for the trees," said Esmel Kanga, who farms near the centre-western region of Daloa, where 10.9 mm fell last week, 12.9 mm below the average.
The weekly average temperature ranged from 27.1 to 30.4 degrees Celsius.
