RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY, COME AGAIN ANOTHER TIME: The cocoa trees need at least four hours per day of sunshine for healthy development
ABIDJAN — More sun is needed to strengthen the development of Ivory Coast’s 2012/13 main cocoa crop, which was helped by abundant rainfall last week in most regions, farmers and analysts say.
Farmers said flowering for the main crop has started in the world’s largest producer of cocoa, and a good mix of rain and sunshine is crucial in July to trigger more flowering and boost growth.
In the western region of Daloa, which produces about a quarter of Ivory Coast’s total output, farmers reported three spells of rainfall mixed with average sunshine, which is seen as good for the main crop.
Farmers said the April-to-September mid-crop was tailing off and the weather focus was now the forthcoming main crop.
“Farmers are focused on next year’s main crop. After this month, there will not be much left of the current mid-crop harvest,” said Abel Konan who farms near Daloa.
“Trees have began to produce flowers. For them to develop properly, we need much sunshine this month as well as rains,” Konan said.
In the southeastern region of Aboisso, one analyst reported 35,1 mm of rain during four days last week, compared with 42,3 mm the previous week.
Farmers said the rains have rendered dusty farm-to-market roads impracticable and made bean-drying conditions difficult.
“The weather is humid. It continues to rain and it’s hard to go into the plantations because the roads are impassable,” said Etienne Yao who farms in the outskirts of Aboisso.
In the western region of Soubre, in the heart of the Ivorian cocoa belt, 8 mm of rainfall was reported last week compared with 41 mm the previous week.
An analyst said cocoa trees would need at least four hours per day of sunshine for healthy development.
“Flowering has begun. With enough sunshine and rain in the coming weeks, we will have very good quality cocoa at the start of the main crop,” said Obrou Dagou, who farms in the area.
“There is enough water in the soil to support trees for several weeks after because of the rains we have had. What we need now is the sun,” Dagou said.
In the eastern region of Abengourou, another analyst reported 58 mm of rainfall during four days last week, compared with 61 mm the week before.
Farmers said flowers were proliferating in plantations, but without abundant sunshine in the regions, most of the flowers would not survive.
“The weather is often overcast, meanwhile, there are enough flowers for the main crop. If we do not have enough sunshine, most of the flowers will fall off, potentially hurting the start of the main crop,” said Denis Kablan, who farms near Abengourou.
Similar growing conditions were reported in western regions of Gagnoa and Duekoue.
Needed: Sunshine for cocoa crop
RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY, COME AGAIN ANOTHER TIME: The cocoa trees need at least four hours per day of sunshine for healthy development
ABIDJAN — More sun is needed to strengthen the development of Ivory Coast’s 2012/13 main cocoa crop, which was helped by abundant rainfall last week in most regions, farmers and analysts say.
Farmers said flowering for the main crop has started in the world’s largest producer of cocoa, and a good mix of rain and sunshine is crucial in July to trigger more flowering and boost growth.
In the western region of Daloa, which produces about a quarter of Ivory Coast’s total output, farmers reported three spells of rainfall mixed with average sunshine, which is seen as good for the main crop.
Farmers said the April-to-September mid-crop was tailing off and the weather focus was now the forthcoming main crop.
“Farmers are focused on next year’s main crop. After this month, there will not be much left of the current mid-crop harvest,” said Abel Konan who farms near Daloa.
“Trees have began to produce flowers. For them to develop properly, we need much sunshine this month as well as rains,” Konan said.
In the southeastern region of Aboisso, one analyst reported 35,1 mm of rain during four days last week, compared with 42,3 mm the previous week.
Farmers said the rains have rendered dusty farm-to-market roads impracticable and made bean-drying conditions difficult.
“The weather is humid. It continues to rain and it’s hard to go into the plantations because the roads are impassable,” said Etienne Yao who farms in the outskirts of Aboisso.
In the western region of Soubre, in the heart of the Ivorian cocoa belt, 8 mm of rainfall was reported last week compared with 41 mm the previous week.
An analyst said cocoa trees would need at least four hours per day of sunshine for healthy development.
“Flowering has begun. With enough sunshine and rain in the coming weeks, we will have very good quality cocoa at the start of the main crop,” said Obrou Dagou, who farms in the area.
“There is enough water in the soil to support trees for several weeks after because of the rains we have had. What we need now is the sun,” Dagou said.
In the eastern region of Abengourou, another analyst reported 58 mm of rainfall during four days last week, compared with 61 mm the week before.
Farmers said flowers were proliferating in plantations, but without abundant sunshine in the regions, most of the flowers would not survive.
“The weather is often overcast, meanwhile, there are enough flowers for the main crop. If we do not have enough sunshine, most of the flowers will fall off, potentially hurting the start of the main crop,” said Denis Kablan, who farms near Abengourou.
Similar growing conditions were reported in western regions of Gagnoa and Duekoue.
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