Hot, dry weather returns to threaten Ivory Coast cocoa

ABIDJAN (Reuters) - Dry, hot weather returned to top grower Ivory Coast's main cocoa regions last week, raising concerns over output and bean quality as the October to March main crop harvest wound down, farmers and analysts said on Monday.

Aside from a spate of showers in late January, there has been no measurable rainfall across most of the West African nation's cocoa belt since the onset of the dry season in mid-December.

Dusty seasonal Harmattan winds have also dried the soil in some growing regions and hindered the development of new cocoa pods.

Bean shipments to Ivory Coast's ports tapered off in January with volumes unlikely to recover until mid-crop harvesting picks up in April.

Farmers reported no rainfall in the western region of Bouafle last week.

'It's very hot and it isn't raining. There are many cherelles (small pods) and flowers that are drying due to a lack of water,' said farmer Denis Alla.

'We need a good shower this week, otherwise there will be big losses,' he said.

In the southern region of Divo, farmers said the harsh conditions were particularly damaging to recently planted sapplings.

'Lots of new trees we've planted are now drying because of intense heat and a lack of water,' said Amadou Diallo, who farms near Divo.

'There is a bit of cocoa on the trees. But if this dry weather continues, there will be very little cocoa in the coming two months,' he said.

Similar growing conditions were reported in the eastern region of Abengourou and the western region of Daloa, which is responsible for about a quarter of the country's cocoa output.

'It is too hot and there is no water... The beans are starting to be of bad quality due to the lack of rain,' said farmer Marcel Aka.

'The volumes coming out of the bush have fallen off dramatically. If it doesn't rain now, the start of the mid-crop will be timid,' he said.

In the western region of Soubre, in the heart of the Ivorian cocoa belt, an analyst reported no rainfall during the week. But farmers said they remained optimistic there would be a smooth transition to the mid-crop harvest.

'Things are going well on the plantations. There won't be an interruption (in output). We'll have small quantities of cocoa until the mid-crop,' said farmer Salam Kone.

'What we want is a bit of rain to improve the quality of the beans that will go out towards the end of this month and the beginning of next month,' he said.