Farmers fear for Ivory Coast's drought-hit cocoa crop

Ivory Coast's cocoa

Ivory Coast's cocoa farmers fear that the hot, dry weather that continued for most of last week could reduce the size of the beans and of the mid-crop.




Cocoa prices fell sharply in the early weeks of 2016 on a wave of fund selling linked to broad-based weakness in commodity markets but have begun to regain some ground this month on concerns that strong Harmattan winds could limit production in West Africa.

New York futures fell 14 percent in January but have risen 3 percent this month. The dry season in the world's top cocoa producer lasts from mid-November to March but relies on intermittent showers to aid development of the April-to-September mid-crop.
The crop in most of the cocoa-growing regions, however, are being damaged by drought.
In the centre-western region Daloa, which produces a quarter of Ivory Coast's national output, farmers said the drought had encouraged the spread of bush fires that have damaged much of the crop.
Albert N'Zue, who farms near Daloa, said the trees no longer have leaves and have weakened considerably.
"Even if it started to rain this week, most of the mid-crop's beans may not be large or of good quality," he added.

In the western region of Soubre, at the heart of the cocoa belt, farmers reported very hot weather and no rainfall. 


"The mid-crop is ruined because everything is practically dry on the trees," said Salame Kone, who farms on the outskirts of Soubre.

In the southern region of Divo, farmers said they no longer expect quality beans because rains have been so scarce.

"Whether it's flowers or pods, everything dies on the cocoa trees because there is no water," said Amadou Diallo, who farms near Divo.

Similar growing conditions were reported in southern regions Aboisso, Agboville and Tiassale, in western region Gagnoa and in eastern region Abengourou.