Cocoa Set for Record Crop in Largest Grower, Threatening Prices
- Rain has been frequent and intense in main growing regions
- Ivory Coast production to reach 2 million tons for first time
Workers harvest cocoa fruit from trees on a cocoa plantation in Agboville, Ivory Coast.
Photographer: Jose Cendon/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
The scores of giant potholes that scar the roads from commercial capital Abidjan to Daloa in the heart of Ivory Coast’s cocoa belt have become deep, muddy puddles, filled by heavy tropical showers.
While drivers making the tortuous journey from the Atlantic coast into the hot interior have reason to curse the wet weather, for farmers in the world’s largest cocoa producer the rains mean the prospect of another record crop.