© REUTERS/Luc GnagoA man grades cocoa beans in a warehouse in Gonate, western Ivory Coast, September 22, 2008.
The downpours come amid rising concern over bean quality in the world's top grower nation, after exporters said much of the 15,000 tonnes of beans arriving at ports last week was not suitable for shipment.
"It has rained too much. The roads are blocked, there are lots of floods and the farmers are having trouble working on the plantations," said Paul Essien, who farms near Aboisso, around 100 km (60 miles) east of Abidjan.
"We need lots of sun in July, otherwise the quality will degrade sharply and diseases will appear. We fear a decline in prices in the coming weeks," he said.
Some 203.2 millimetres of rain fell in the Aboisso region last week, according to meteorologist readings.
Elsewhere in Ivory Coast, farmers said they had seen less rain and more spells of sunshine, easing their fears that damp weather would trigger disease on their plantations and interrupt drying and fermenting work.
But they cautioned that weather in July would be key to the outcome of the April-October mid-crop -- with too much rain spelling trouble for quality and pod development.
Ivory Coast's huge cocoa sector is recovering from the effects of a four-month crisis that followed a disputed November election. Farmers struggled to get their plantations back in order after many fled during the conflict.
Cocoa production volumes are running higher than last year at over 1.2 million tonnes this season, but quality has become a top concern since the onset of the rainy season.
"There has been lots of rain but we have had three good days of sun," said Edmon Ezan, who farms in the coastal region of Sassandra, west of Abidjan. "There is plenty of cocoa upcountry and this weather is giving us a chance to properly dry it and ferment it," he said.
Analysts reported 56 millimetres of rain around Sassandra, compared with 21.9 millimetres the week before.
In the western region of Soubre, at the heart of the Ivorian cocoa belt, analyst reported 18 millimetres of rain compared with 102 millimetres the week before.
"We were afraid because of the heavy rain, but last week was sunnier," said Lazare Ake, who farms near Soubre.
"The tree roots are getting a breath and if there is less rain in July and more sun, we will finish the season beautifully with lots of cocoa," he said.
In the eastern region of Abengourou, well north of Aboisso, analyst reported just 44 millimetres of rains compared with 65 millimetres the week before.
"There was less rain and the amount of sun eased our fears of disease," said farmer Michel Koffi.
"Based on our experience we think the weather in July will be excellent for the mid-crop," he said.
In the centre-western region of Daloa, producing a quarter of Ivory Coast's national output, farmers reported two abundant rains mixed with sun last week.
"Up to now, the rains have been good for the cooca," said Attoungbre Kouame, who farms in the region. "We need less rain in July to prepare the fields for the coming main crop."
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