Cocoa farmers in Ivory Coast anticipate a robust harvest through at least late December, supported by favourable weather conditions that include a combination of light rains and sunny spells. These conditions have helped strengthen the October-to-March main crop, which plays a significant role in the global cocoa supply, as Ivory Coast remains the world’s largest cocoa producer.
Despite entering the dry season, which typically spans mid-November to March with reduced rainfall, recent sunny conditions have allowed cocoa beans to dry well and prevented disease, ensuring a high-quality yield. In regions such as Soubre, where rain levels have been lower than average, cocoa trees are laden with large pods ready for harvest. Farmers in the area report that a considerable volume of cocoa beans is expected to be processed throughout November and December.
Kouassi Kouame, a farmer from Soubre, observed, “A lot of beans are coming out of the bush. Large volumes of the main crop will be released this month and in December.” Last week, Soubre received 14.5 mm of rain—8.1 mm below the five-year regional average. Farmers expect that these conditions will result in an abundant yield, potentially surpassing last season’s output.
In the southern regions of Agboville and Divo, as well as the eastern region of Abengourou, farmers are optimistic that the sunny weather will continue to promote the production of high-quality cocoa beans. However, in the west-central region of Daloa and the central regions of Bongouanou and Yamoussoukro, the need for additional rainfall has been noted. Albert N’Zue, a farmer from Daloa, expressed hope for more rain from mid-November to support ongoing harvesting efforts in January and beyond.
With average temperatures across the country ranging from 27.1 to 28 degrees Celsius, farmers are cautiously optimistic that the conditions will continue to sustain the main crop, ensuring that harvest volumes meet both local and global market demands.
