ABIDJAN, March 22, 2011 - Good rains mixed with lengthy sunny spells last week in Ivory Coast's cocoa regions boded well for the development of the mid-crop about to be harvested, farmersand analysts said.
The October to March main crop is tailing off and all eyes are on the April to September mid-crop.
Many farmers in the bush said harvesting have already started but remained small. Farmers added they were happy with the state of plantations, with many pods of big, small and average size on trees -- although paralysis of the cocoa sector because of Ivory Coast's political crisis continues.
In the western region of Soubre, at the heart of the cocoa belt, one analyst working for an industrial cocoa plantation reported 53 millimetres of rain.
Farmers said first beans of themid-crop were of small sizes but would improve as the rainy season kicks in.
"The harvest has started. The first beans are a bit small, probably only good for local grinders, not exporters," said farmer Lazare Ake, who farms in the outskirts of Soubre.
"Regular rains will fatten up the beans to make them good for export."
In the southern region of Aboisso, analyst reported about 69 millimetres of rains which were boosting the crop. Farmers said leaves on trees are becoming green, a good early sign of a proliferation of flowers and small pods.
"If the rains start in April, the beans will be of very good quality by the start of may," said farmer Etienne Yao.
"There are a lot of pods almost ripe."
In the eastern region of Abengourou, 42 millimetres of rains punctuated with enough sunshine for drying were reported. "The first beans are being well dried.
There's no problem with moisture," said one local analyst. Patchy rains and a hot weather, good for the growth of the mid-crop, were also reported in centre-western region of Daloa and coastal region of Sassandra.
Good growing conditions were reported in southern regions of Divo, Agboville and Tiassale, in western regions of Duekoue, Meagui and Gagnoa, in central region of Yamoussoukro and in coastal region of San Pedro.******
