ABIDJAN - The seasonal Harmattan weather phenomenon intensified last week in most of Ivory Coast's main cocoa growing regions, raising concern it could lead to poor bean quality and reduced output next year, farmers said on Monday.
The Harmattan, which arrived in the Ivorian cocoa belt weeks earlier than expected, is a dusty, dry wind that usually blows down from the Sahara from December to March. When prolonged or severe, it can kill small cocoa pods and sap soil moisture, reducing bean size.
The western region of Soubre was the only growing zone to report rainfall last week, with an analyst recording 18 millimetres of rain up from none the previous week.
Salame Kone, who farms in the outskirts of Soubre, said large pods now visible on trees would ensure healthy harvesting through January, but problems were likely to appear after.
"The Harmattan intensified compared to the week before. There are concerns not only for the size of beans after January, but also for the start of the mid-crop in April," he said.
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Farmers in the eastern region of Abengourou, generally known for the high quality of its cocoa, also voiced concerns that the conditions could reduce bean size in February.
"The wind is blowing very strongly and it's dry. It's not good for the cocoa. The trees are going to suffer," said N'Dri Kouao, who farms in Niable, near the border with Ghana.
In the southern region of Aboisso, farmers reported similar conditions.
In the centre-western region of Daloa, responsible for a quarter of Ivory Coast's national output,farmers said the dry conditions were leading to high mortality rates among flowers and cherelles (small pods).
"Lots of cherelles have turned yellow and fallen off the trees because of the Harmattan. The harvest will drop next year," said Daloa farmer Gervais Kobenan. "If we don't get rain by mid-January, we fear for the survival of the young trees."
