ABIDJAN - Sunny spells and heavy rain last week in Ivory Coast’s main cocoa growing regions should boost soil moisture and ensure the main crop’s strong launch would continue for at least the next two months, farmers said on Monday. Ivory Coast, the world’s top cocoa producer, began its season this month as the government increased farmgate prices to 1,000 CFA francs ($1.68) per kg to spur production. Farmers said they increased deliveries as a result. In the western region of Soubre, at the heart of the cocoa belt, an analyst reported 54 mm of rains last week, compared with about 12 mm the week before. Farmer Lazare Ake said despite the heavy rains, the heat would ensure the pods would not be too moist to grow properly. “With this heat, the beans will be well conserved in the bush and there will be little moisture in our sales,” said Ake. In the centre-west region of Daloa, which produces a quarter of the country’s output, farmers reported two downpours and sunny spells. “The conditions continue to improve on the plantations,” said Gervais Kobenan, who farms near Daloa. “If the rain continues until mid-November, there will be more beans coming out between December and January in the area.” In the western region of Duekoue, farmers said good rains and sun were improving the yield. “We are going to have a long marketing season because there are more flowers on the trees,” said farmer and cooperative manager Amara Kone. Good growing conditions were reported in southern regions Aboisso, Agboville, Divo and Tiassale, in coastal regions San Pedro and Sassandra and in western regions Bouafle and Gagnoa. ($1 = 595.3500 CFA francs)