Ivory Coast’s cocoa farmers are expressing anxieties about the upcoming mid-crop harvest, citing a lack of rain and scorching temperatures across most cocoa-growing regions. The world’s leading cocoa producer recently entered its rainy season, which typically brings abundant rainfall from April to mid-November.
Impact on Developing Pods and Anticipation of Price Increase
Many farmers reported a significant rise in temperatures compared to the previous week, leading to concerns about reduced soil moisture. They fear this dry spell could negatively impact the development of small cocoa pods and cherelles, which are due for harvest from mid-August onwards.
Marketing for the mid-crop season officially begins in early April, coinciding with the announcement of a new government-set farmgate price. Most farmers are holding onto their cocoa beans, anticipating a price increase to 1,500 CFA francs ($2.48) per kilogram, up from the current 1,000 CFA francs.
Uneven Rainfall Distribution Raises Concerns
“The heat is unbearable,” said Albert N’Zue, a cocoa farmer near Daloa in the west-central region. “The young pods desperately need more water to develop properly.” Daloa received only 8.6 millimeters of rain last week, falling 12 millimeters short of the five-year average.
Similar conditions were reported in other key cocoa-growing areas, including Yamoussoukro (central), Agboville and Divo (south), and Abengourou (east). All these regions experienced below-average rainfall.
While some regions like Soubre (west) and Bongouanou (central) received slightly above-average rainfall, farmers there still consider it insufficient to significantly boost crop yields. “The amount of rain is simply not enough,” said Salame Kone, a farmer near Soubre. “It’s incredibly hot, and we need significantly more rain to improve cocoa production.” Average weekly temperatures ranged from 29.6 to 33.4 degrees Celsius across cocoa-growing regions.
Balancing Optimism with Caution
The early dry spell has cast a shadow of uncertainty over Ivory Coast’s mid-crop cocoa harvest. However, the season is still in its early stages, and weather patterns can change rapidly. Farmers remain hopeful that adequate rainfall will arrive in the coming weeks, mitigating the impact of the recent dry conditions.
Close monitoring of weather patterns and continued agricultural support programs will be crucial in ensuring a successful mid-crop harvest for Ivorian cocoa farmers.
Source: ReutersÂ
