Coffee production for the month of May fell by 18 percent in comparison to output in the same month last year, report the National Federation of Coffee Growers Thursday.
Colombia produced 637,000 bags, or about 83 million pounds of coffee last month.
The coffee crop suffered an abnormally long cold season, which resulted in decreased output.
“We are still experiencing the consequences of the strong winter, but the country’s coffee growers are optimistic and are here to stay.We are working hard to eradicate the country’s blight and to raise the productivity of coffee, which in the medium term will give conclusive results,” explained the general manager of Fedecafe to Caracol Radio.
Colombia’s coffee exports remain strong, despite lower productivity. Exports of the good grew 12 percent in the month of May.
Additionally, coffee exports between January and May of this year rose 27 percent to 3.6 million bags, against 2.9 million exported in the same period earlier.