Dry, windy weather darkens Ivorian cocoa outlook

Mon Jan 2, 2012 2:38pm GMT

 

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* Seasonal wind strong in most areas

* No rains reported

* Farmers say end of main crop could be slow

By Loucoumane Coulibaly

ABIDJAN, Jan 2 (Reuters) - Dry and windy weather in most of Ivory Coast's main cocoa growing regions last week has deepened fears about the development of the crop after January, farmers said on Monday.

The world's top grower is entering the last stage of the October-to-March main crop with an output surplus over last year , but if there is no rain plantations could turn out to be short of beans in the coming weeks.

In the western region of Duekoue, farmers said no rain fell last week as a strong seasonal wind, called the harmattan, raged. They said the conditions were weakening trees, and flowers and young pods were drying up.

"Flowers and small pods are falling from the trees because of the very strong harmattan and it is still warm," said Amara Kone, who farms on the outskirts of Duekoue.

"If the weather stays like this, I'm worried we won't have any cocoa in February or March."

In the western region of Soubre, at the heart of the cocoa belt, farmers said the lack of moisture and strong wind would weigh on the size and quality during the last stage of the main crop.

"(Farmers) are worried because the beans could end up small since there's no rain and the harmattan is strong," said Salam Kone, a farmer in Soubre. "All we need is a bit of rain to support the crop for March."

Similar growing conditions were reported in western regions of Meagui and Gagnoa, in the coastal region of Sassandra and in southern regions of Divo and Agboville.

In the centre-western region of Daloa, which produces a quarter of Ivory Coast's national output, farmers also said the hot weather and strong harmattan would reduce main crop output.

"We're worried that lots of trees will die if the harmattan stays warm," said Marcel Aka, who farms near Daloa.

"We're expecting a reduction in the harvest starting from this month. With this weather, we're worried we won't have any beans to sell in the weeks to come," he said. (Editing by Richard Valdmanis and James Jukwey)

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