"The weather may not always have been kind to cocoa farmers in West Africa, but until recently it was at least broadly predictable."
"Temperature always hovered between 22 and 29 degrees Celsius, rains fell between April and July -- plus another short period between October and mid-November -- and the sun shone the rest of the time, fattening up cocoa beans and enabling drying.
Scientists say climate change may be altering these once reliable weather patterns in West Africa, which is the source of some two thirds of the world's cocoa.
Survival in a warmer world for the millions of smallholders who depend on cocoa may depend on moving to higher, cooler places or breeding new varieties, experts say."
Loucoumane Coulibaly reports for Reuters November 29, 2011.
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