Ivory Coast Cocoa Farmers Seek More Rain for Mid-Crop
Ivory Coast cocoa farmers say more rain is needed to boost mid-crop bean quality. While harvesting has started, recent dry spells in key areas are a concern.
Farmers in Ivory Coast are reporting that more rainfall is necessary to improve the quality of Cocoa beans for the ongoing March-to-August mid-crop. While the nation is currently in its official rainy season, which typically spans from April to mid-November, recent precipitation levels in several key growing regions have fallen below the five-year average.
Despite the lower-than-expected rainfall last week, agricultural workers noted that the current weather has not yet jeopardized the health of the trees, which are currently bearing a mixture of small, average, and large pods. Harvesting activities have begun to increase, with a significant volume of pods expected to be collected between May and July.
