Over 11 million bags of Colombia’s iconic coffee bean were produced in the country over the past 12 months, the Colombian Coffee Growers Federation (CFC) said on Wednesday.
Coffee Production in the country rose 32% totaling 11.3 million 132 pounds bags between May 2013 and April this year, compared to the 8.5 million bags from the same period last year.
The bean’s national production has increased to 15% to 3.5 million bags this year alone totaling 456,000 more bags than the 3.1 million bags during the first four months of 2013.
However, a 14% drop in production has been registered in the month of April compared to the same month last year.
According to the CFC, increase in coffee production, along with this year’s recovery in international coffee prices has led to a significant increase in the value of the crop.
The organization cites figures which show that due to the production boom and current demand, the 590 Colombian municipalities that rely on coffee cultivation have seen a significant increase in income, and the creation of 188,000 jobs over the past 12 months.
Coffee farmers continue to struggle
The figures published by the CFC show just one side of the story as a number of disgruntled coffee farmers — who are now only beginning to see profits for their product again after four years of disease and market fluctuation — joined the ongoing nationwide agrarian strikes in late April.
Colombian farmers and small-scale miners have been protesting in a number of states across the country to highlight promises they claim the government has not delivered since the previous agrarian strikes last fall
MORE: Over 120 injured in agrarian strikes: Interior Ministry
For coffee growers, the promises included the a subsidy program to help the industry through times of price fluctuation, help with high fuel and fertilizer costs, and credit refinancing for farmers in debt.
MORE: Why better prices doesn’t mean better conditions for Colombia’s coffee farmers
According to the CFC, in terms of export values over the past year, there has been a 35% increase — up to 10.5 million bags while the value rose by 10% to $2.3 million.
Colombia is the world’s third largest supplier of mild Arabica coffee, exporting 10.5 million bags between May 2013 and April 2014, an increase of 35% from the same period last year.
“This positive outcome was the result of crop renovation with resistant varieties that have a higher production potential combined with normal weather conditions,” the CFC statement read.
Sources:
- Produccion de cafe supero los 11,3 millones de sacos en los ultimos 12 meses (El Espectador)
- Colombia produjo 11,3 millones de sacos de 60 kilos entre mayo de 2013 y abril de 2014 (El Tiempo)
- Produccion de cafe de Colombia supero los 11,3 millones de sacos en los ultimos doce meses (CFC Press Release)