Floods hit cocoa production in Ivory Coast

Above-average rainfall in most of Ivory Coast's cocoa regions last week flooded plantations and could affect the start of the next main October-March harvest, farmers said on Monday. The world's biggest cocoa producer is in its rainy season, which officially runs from April to mid-November. Rainfall is generally abundant and heavy during this period. Several farmers said the rain had caused flooding that prevented them from accessing their crops. They said that the weather can bring disease and that there is a lack of sun. More heavy rains could disrupt the start of the next main season as it would knock the flowers off the trees, while the mid-April-September season was winding down with low yields, they added. “It's not good here, the rains come one after the other. Farmers can no longer go to the field because the rivers have overflowed and there are floods,” said Arsene Kouao. He farms near the eastern region of Abengourou, where 206.3 millimeters (mm) (8.12 inches) of rain ...