(Releads with purchases data to week 28)
By Kwasi Kpodo
ACCRA, May 13 (Reuters) - Cocoa purchases by the industry regulator in the world's No. 2 grower Ghana picked up pace in late April, extending to 13 percent its margin over the same stage of the previous season, industry data showed on Tuesday.
Purchases declared by private buyers to Cocobod reached 598,418.8 tonnes in the first 28 weeks of the 2007-08 main crop, compared to 528,298.7 tonnes bought in the same period of the previous season, according to Cocobod data seen by Reuters.
Purchases for week 28 ending May 1 were 14,169 tonnes, up from 9,911 tonnes in the previous week and well above the 6,458 tonnes purchased in week 28 of the 2006-07 season, according to Cocobod data seen by Reuters on Tuesday.
Cocobod, which buys cocoa from independent intermediary buyers under Ghana's semi-liberalised marketing system, has projected purchases of at least 650,000 tonnes through the October 2007-September 2008 crop year.
This forecast includes at least 600,000 tonnes forecast for the 33-week main crop which began on Oct. 19.
Ghana, world No. 2 cocoa producer, declared a total production of 614,469 tonnes last season, down from a record 740,457 in the 2005/06 crop year.
In separate interviews with Reuters, industry sources predicted that the main crop target would be achieved.
"The crop is doing well and we believe we are running on target," a Cocobod source said. "The indications are that we will be running the full crop period of 33 weeks."
James Yakoi, an official at a leading buying company, said the main crop yield in the western and eastern cocoa regions had improved, adding that there were also signs of a better light crop this year.
Light crop beans, which are smaller than average, are found throughout the year but mainly during Ghana's June-September mid crop, rather than the October-May main crop.
Light crop beans are favoured by local grinders because they are cheaper than the bulk of Ghana's cocoa crop, which tends to command a quality premium on world markets.
"The light crop beans have started showing up and I believe we will do much better than we saw last year," Yakoi said, noting rains and intermittent sunshine in cocoa areas.
Cocobod Chief Executive Isaac Osei said in April that production was on target and might be slightly ahead of projections.
The country has outlined an ambitious programme aimed at raising output to 1 million tonnes by 2010, mainly through increased fertiliser use and the reintroduction of services to help farmers implement recommended agronomic practices to raise yields. (Reporting by Kwasi Kpodo; Editing by Alistair Thomson)
