Why is coffee yield different in each country?

Plant variety is the factor that largely determines the productivity of coffee trees. According to Carlos Brando, P&A Marketing Director and President of the Global Coffee Forum, there is no coffee variety that can grow perfectly in every environment. Some types of coffee grow and yield optimally for some countries. But it may face many restrictions in other countries. As in Central America, where leaf rust is a serious problem, farmers will have to look for rust-resistant varieties. Producers must choose planting varieties suitable for the soil type and environment of the area. Each variety will have different yield levels. Therefore, the productivity of each country will also have significant differences.

Jeffrey Sachs – University Professor and Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University said that from 1990 to 2019, productivity rates increased by more than 100% in Vietnam and 30% in Brazil. But in other countries there is not as strong growth as these two countries. He believes that it is the difference in farming methods that has created this disparity.

In most coffee-producing countries, farmers often do not pay much attention to crop planning. They also pay little attention to adjusting the density or height of trees in an area to increase the tree’s metabolic capacity. But coffee farms in Vietnam and Brazil are very carefully calculated on this issue. As in Brazil, tree density is kept from 1 – 2.5 meters to avoid competition for nutrients. Coffee trees are usually tall enough to increase the photosynthetic capacity of the leaves and produce high yields. Taller plants also lend themselves more easily to mechanized harvesting methods and produce more.

In addition, some countries believe that the use of agroforestry can provide high quality but reduces productivity, so it is rarely applied. In fact, if applied properly, agroforestry coffee can ensure a balance between productivity and quality. Producers can adjust the level of sunlight the plant receives by pruning as needed. As Ethiopian coffee producers have applied this farming method to part of the farm. This leads to the 2020 forecast, Ethiopia’s coffee productivity level is expected to increase from 0.74 tons/ha to 0.82 tons/ha over the past 4 years. Shade-grown coffee also has other advantages. For example, when leaves fall, they will decompose into the soil in the form of organic matter, both increasing natural nutrition for coffee and helping farmers save on fertilizer costs.

Investment in science and technology is important to improve productivity. However, this is not a concern in some countries with low output. However, it must be recognized that investing in a farm is a long-term process. Many coffee growers do not have enough resources to pay for improvements because of their unstable income. Furthermore, the value of income received in some countries is affected by inflation. So even though the amount is the same, in reality the grower may have less money to invest and improve. This is a socioeconomic issue that affects the sustainability of the global coffee industry. Because if those farmers cannot afford to improve their farms, the productivity and quality of coffee will become increasingly poor. This continues the cycle of inadequate income, which can cause output declines and price fluctuations around the world.

To break this cycle and increase output, coffee farmers need state intervention and competitive markets. In these countries, governments should step up support for research, training and extension services, infrastructure, logistics and credit. This can help small-scale growers develop their farms, thereby improving the quality and sustainability of the coffee market. In addition, consumers can also contribute to improving sustainability by supporting sustainable coffee products, paying fair prices to farmers.

As a business with the core value of Transparency | Traceability | Ethics | Responsibility | Transforming towards Sustainability, specialty coffee at XLIII Coffee is always bought and sold by direct trade, paying the exact price or higher than the price proposed by the farmer. Price information is always updated fully and transparently from the price paid to the manufacturer, FOB, DDP so that every time you enjoy it, you can clearly see the value that related parties receive.

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