Challenges that drag coffee farmers in India
– FIND THE ORIGIN –
India is one of the famous exporters of the best shade-grown coffees in the international market. As of 2021, this country has more than 471,000 hectares of land used to grow coffee, including traditional and non-traditional growing areas. Among them, there are three traditional coffee growing regions that stand out in both quality and output: Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, located in the southern peninsula of the country. Coffee here is often cultivated in the canopy at low temperatures, allowing the trees more time to develop rich flavors, increasing income value for growers. However, coffee farmers in India still face challenges that affect productivity. Find out with 43 Factory Coffee Roaster!
Indian coffee farmers are mainly on a small scale
According to statistics, India has about 250,000 coffee growers. Of these, 98% are small, family-sized farms. These farming households often only own a small piece of land or rent land for farming. Income depends mainly on growing coffee, so the production base is much weaker than farmers in other countries. Farmers in India also have few opportunities to access advanced infrastructure and in-depth expertise in coffee production. Limited financial resources or the ability to receive loans and support lead to many difficulties in improving farms and enhancing market competitiveness.
Indian coffee farmers are vulnerable to damage caused by natural disasters
India has the 7th largest area in the world with the mainland accounting for 90.44%. This country has many ideal areas for growing coffee such as three traditional growing regions: Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. This was followed by new developments in non-traditional areas of the country’s east coast, a third of which comprises the states of India’s Northeast. Most of these areas are located between 1,000 – 1,500 meters above sea level. In particular, the climate in some regions from June to September has the southwest monsoon, causing coffee to possess the characteristic flavor of Pacific coffee.
However, due to its geographical location, India’s coffee growing regions are susceptible to natural disasters and extreme weather conditions. In particular, some areas often encounter tornadoes. Many places that are main agricultural production areas were severely damaged by strong winds and heavy rains. For example, in 2022, Indian coffee farmers suffered severely under the onslaught of Cyclone Mandous. Coffee is damaged and unsatisfactory due to premature fall, causing farmers to suffer great losses.
Adaptation options of Indian coffee farmers
Natural disasters are very difficult to avoid. Therefore, Indian manufacturers have made efforts to improve operations to adapt in all circumstances. The growing area was improved by increasing the coverage of large trees, protecting the coffee from heavy rain. Invest in equipment to increase efficiency, such as using high-capacity industrial fans to keep coffee cherries dry and mold-proof. The additional number of workers to rake and spread the coffee regularly ensures that the coffee dries faster.
In addition, many farmers in the region are aware of the importance of improving scientifically sustainable farming methods to adapt to climate change. They also understand that investing in better infrastructure will help improve quality and standardize post-harvest processing. However, filling is a long process and cannot be completed completely through the efforts of manufacturers alone. This requires joint efforts and support from agencies, roasters and the support of consumers in the global market.
If you love high quality specialty coffee products and support farmers’ dedication to sustainable farming, please visit XLIII Coffee – A brand developed from 43 Factory Coffee Roaster!
Follow our news channel to discover useful information about coffee!
Bài viết liên quan:
– Potosi Sidra #0334 – Coffee lot with all the characteristics of the Valle del Cauca region
– How to combine alcohol and coffee to increase sleep quality
