Ivory Coast cocoa output projected to drop 40%

Cocoa production in Ivory Coast is expected to drop by about 40% this season. This decline is mainly due to a long drought that has affected many farms. Exporters report that farmers will likely produce between 280,000 and 300,000 metric tons of cocoa. Last season, the country harvested around 500,000 tons. The dry conditions have caused problems for crops in the main cocoa-growing regions. Farmers say the rainfall has been scattered and not enough to support healthy growth. The mid-crop season starts on April 1 and runs until September 30, during which good rains are crucial for both yield and quality. Five exporters and pod counters shared their insights with Reuters, explaining that the poor weather has harmed the cocoa beans' size and quality. Over the past decade, the average annual production has been around 550,000 tons. The prolonged drought began in November and has continued until now. This situation is unusual and has had serious effects on production. One exporter mentioned that the delay means farmers will not see a good quantity of cocoa beans at the ports until later in the year. Typically, cocoa flowers take about 22 weeks to develop into mature pods. Because of the long dry spell, the flowers are just starting to appear in small amounts now, which pushes back the entire harvesting process. As one exporter noted, this means farmers will need to be patient, as significant activity is not expected until June.