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Ivory Coast farmers report abundant cocoa flowers despite below-average rainfall

Farmers said that despite the below-average rains last week, good soil moisture is encouraging a strong flowering of the main crop for October to March, in most cocoa-growing areas of Ivory Coast.

Ivory Coast is in the middle of the rainy season, which runs from April to mid-November.

Farmers said that soil moisture is still adequate for the cocoa trees to bloom abundantly, which gives them hope for a good start for their main crop.

The bean supply is expected to increase by mid-August, as more large pods mature. However, more rain and more sunshine are needed to help the pods develop properly in the next few weeks.

Gerard Dongo said, "We'll have a lot cocoa this season if the weather stays good until August," a farmer in Daloa where only 7.2 mm fell last week, 18.6 mm less than average.

Alfred Gnaly is a farmer in the west region of Soubre. He said, "The main crop has developed well. (But) we need more rain and sunshine." Last week's rainfall was 6.5 mm, which is 33.1 mm less than the average for the past five years.

Farmers in the southern regions Agboville, Divo, and Abengourou reported that there were more flowers on the trees this season than they had last year.

Farmers in the central-western region Daloa, and the central regions Bongouanou, and Yamoussoukro where rainfall is also below average said that flowering progressed well. This could result in a more productive main crop if the weather remains favorable through August.

The average weekly temperature ranged between 24.4 and 27.2 degrees Celsius. Reporting by Loucoumane Colibaly, Editing by Ayen deng Bior and Hugh Lawson

(source: Reuters)