Colombia’s National Federation of Coffee Growers (NFCG) on Thursday said that coffee production between October 2012 and September 2013 had surpassed 9.9 million bags of 60kg, a 30% rise when compared to the same period the previous year.
According to the NFCG, the results are the product of ambitious renovation plans implemented in recent years that enhanced productivity and the health conditions of the coffee plant.
“The results are striking and lead to the conclusion that we will reach our goal of 10 million bags for the calendar year 2013,” said Luis Genaro Muñoz Ortega, manager of the National Federation of coffee growers. “The country can expect the coffee industry to continue to grow.”
The high production figures have helped many farmers partially offset the plight associated with low international coffee prices, the leader said. But many farmers still suffer due to a lack of government subsidies.
As a result, coffee farmers in August protested a lack of government support for what many Colombians view to be the country’s flagship industry. Rural protests involving road blockades brought coffee farmers and the government to the negotiating table.
But production it seems, has not suffered. In September this year, coffee production reached 860,000 bags of 60kg, a 66% increase when compared to the September 2012. Such results equate to the highest levels of production since 2007.
Coffee exports during the coffee year (October 2012 – September 2013) also show good results, surpassing 8.8 million bags of 60kg, a 21% increase when compared to the year before.
Exports in September 2013 increased 29% when compared to September 2012, totalling 680,000 bags of 60kg.