ABIDJAN, April 1 (Reuters) - Lack of rain and strong sun in most of Ivory Coast's main cocoa regions last week could hinder the April-to-September mid-crop, farmers said on Monday.
The world’s top cocoa producer just started its rainy season, which runs officially from April to mid-November. Rains are usually abundant during this time.
Several farmers across the country have reported a rise in temperature compared with the previous week, sapping soil moisture.
They said they were concerned about the impact of the past week's weather on the small pods and cherelles meant to be harvested from mid-August.
Marketing for the mid-crop officially opens in early April, with a new farmgate price set by the government. Most farmers said they were holding onto beans as they expected the price to increase to 1,500 CFA francs ($2.48) per kilogram, up from the 1,000 CFA.
"The heat is unbearable. Small pods need more water to develop," said Albert N’Zue, who farms near the centre-western region of Daloa, where 8.6 millimetres of rain fell last week, 12 mm below the five-year average.
Similar conditions with below-average rainfall were reported in the central region of Yamoussoukro, in the southern regions of Agboville and Divo, and in the eastern region of Abengourou.
Although rain was above the average and the central region of Bongouanou and in the western region of Soubre, farmers there said it was still insufficient to boost crops.
"The level of rain is too low. It is so hot. We need more rain to boost cocoa production," said Salame Kone, who farms near Soubre, where 20.1 mm fell last week, 3 mm above average.
Average weekly temperatures ranged between 29.6 and 33.4 degrees Celsius. ($1 = 605.2500 CFA francs)
(Reporting by Loucoumane Coulibaly Editing by Sofia Christensen and Louise Heavens)
