⁍ Good weather in November would also strengthen the crop in February and March.

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⁍ Some cooperative managers said buyers were seeking to collect more beans in case of political turmoil.

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⁍ Ivory Coast holds a presidential election on Oct. 31 in which incumbent Alassane Ouattara is seeking a third term.

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– Ivory Coast, the world’s top cocoa producer, is likely to see a bumper crop this year, with good weather conditions helping cocoa pods to ripen, Reuters reports. Farmers in the world’s top cocoa producer say good weather in November will also strengthen the crop in February and March, potentially paving the way for a bigger main crop than last season’s 1.69 million tons. The main crop totaled 1.69 million tons in the season. Some cooperative managers said buyers were seeking to collect more beans in case of political turmoil that could prevent them from fulfilling their contracts. Ivory Coast holds a presidential election on Oct. 31 in which incumbent Alassane Ouattara is seeking a third term, amid violent protests that have killed over a dozen. “We expect a lot more harvest from next month, and the harvest campaign is going to be long,’ said Eugene Badou, who farms near the eastern region of Abengourou, known for the good quality of its beans. Data collected by Reuters showed rainfall in Abengourou was 77.1 millimeters last week, 50.5 millimeters above the five-year average. In the central regions of Bongouanou and Yamoussoukro, where rainfall was also well above the average, farmers said if the favorable mix of sun and moisture continued next month there would be no shortage of beans in February and March.