Ivory Coast patchy rains nurture cocoa mid-crop

* Rain, hot weather in main growing regions

* Weather seen boosting mid-crop, quality a concern

ABIDJAN, May 3 (Reuters) - Patchy rains punctuated by hot weather in Ivory Coast's main cocoa-growing regions last week augured well for a mid-crop seen longer than last season's, farmers and analysts said on Tuesday.

The world's top cocoa grower is gradually recovering from a bloody post-election power struggle, with exports due to restart any day and exporters forecasting a mid-crop of between 250,000 and 300,000 tonnes.

In the western region of Soubre, at the heart of the cocoa belt, farmers reported two rainfalls mixed with sun -- a pattern which if continued would lengthen the crop.

"The rains expected in May will help extend the mid-crop to August," said local farmer Salam Kone.

Two abundant rainfalls were also reported in the centre-west region of Daloa, which produces a quarter of national output. Farmers said conditions were delicately balanced between boosting volumes and creating quality concerns.

"We are concerned the excess of moisture will attract insects to the plantations to destroy the pods," said farmer Marcel Aka, adding however that the mid-crop would be larger than last season's if that risk was averted.

In the southern region of Aboisso, one analyst reported 12.8 millimetres of rain in the week. Farmers said they were happy that the downpour would improve the quality of beans.

"The first beans harvested were not big. With these rains we think the quality will be better from May on," said farmer Jean Tano.

In the coastal region of Sassandra, one agronomist reported 9 millimetres of rains in the spell. Farmers said the weather was in line with good pod growth but they were concerned about the rainy season, which could prevent beans from drying properly.

No rain was reported in the eastern region of Abengourou but growing conditions remained good, farmers said.

(Source: http://www.forexpros.com/news/commodities---futures-news/ivory-coast-patchy-rains-nurture-cocoa-mid-crop-213066)