ABIDJAN, Could 30 (Reuters) – A chronic dry spell persevered throughout Ivory Coast’s cocoa-growing areas final week, jeopardising the end result of the April-to-September mid-crop and doubtlessly delaying the beginning of the subsequent, farmers mentioned on Monday.
Ivory Coast, the world’s greatest cocoa producer, is in its wet season, which runs from April to mid-November. However the normally heavy downpours have been scarce for the reason that starting of Could.
Farmers instructed Reuters this was the worst rainy-season dry spell in 5 years. Harvesting may quickly taper off, with cocoa tress carrying far much less younger fruit than final yr, they mentioned.
“The rains are late this yr [and] it is the primary concern amongst farmers,” mentioned Kouassi Kouame, who farms close to the western area of Soubre.
Solely 3.5 millimetres (mm) of rain fell in Soubre final week, information collected by Reuters confirmed, 46.2 mm under the area’s five-year common.
Within the southern areas of Agboville and Divo and within the jap area of Abengourou, rainfall was equally sparse. Farmers mentioned the shortage of moisture was hampering the event of younger fruits they usually do not count on the mid-crop to complete sturdy.
Within the centre-western area of Daloa, farmers warned the dry spell may damage not solely this yr’s mid-crop, but additionally the beginning of the subsequent rising season. Rainfall in Daloa was simply 4.2 mm final week, 21.eight mm under the typical.
“If the drought continues, the timber might be weakened and the subsequent crop won’t begin effectively,” mentioned Arsène Koffi, who farms close to Daloa.
Rainfall was additionally effectively under common within the central areas of Bongouanou and Yamoussoukro.
Common day by day temperatures ranged from 27.1 to 30.eight levels Celsius final week.
(Reporting by Loucoumane Coulibaly Enhancing by Cooper Inveen and Mark Potter)
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