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JULY. 2021 | VOL. 19
What’s the connection between climate change
and the displacement of coffee farmers?
The coffee industry can be a lucrative business for Because the coffee crop must be grown at
some, but rarely does this apply to those on the high altitudes in specific climate,
first rung of the supply chain– coffee farmers temperature and soil conditions, growers
themselves. have no choice but to live in inhospitable
climates. Many famers live with their
families in poorly constructed homes that
do not provide adequate shelter or
sanitation facilities.
One of the reasons why small-scale coffee
producers face disadvantage is due to the
international coffee market and the
changing price of coffee.
Coffee is an important commodity that is
traded in commodity markets and
According to the Fairtrade Foundation, there are
approximately 25 million smallholder coffee exchange-traded funds. However, it is
because of this that the prices can
farmers around the world in areas
predominantly along the ‘Coffee Belt’ (primarily negatively impact farmers through no fault
of their own.
equatorial regions, including Brazil, Colombia,
Ecuador, Ethiopia, and Indonesia). Over 90% of To produce a profitable harvest, a coffee
coffee production comes from developing
countries and the majority of coffee farmer must invest in tools, labour, land,
and machinery. If the price of coffee falls for
consumption takes place in more developed
countries. reasons unrelated to producers, this means
that farmers may end up only breaking even
on their investment costs, or in the worst-
Although figures vary widely, these smallholder
farmers produce around 80% of the world’s case scenarios, they may go into debt.
coffee. Despite their work in difficult and
sometimes dangerous conditions, many coffee This has resulted in a situation where
farmers today live in poverty, and the situation is farmers have taken the extreme measure of
only getting worse due to climate change, the abandoning their farmlands as a result.
displacement of workers, COVID-19, and the
fluctuating price of coffee. The real concern of climate change
Even with the difficulties posed by unstable
coffee prices, one of the most pressing
Issues facing coffee farmers
Many coffee farmers live in poverty, despite concerns for famers is the issue of climate
being key stakeholders in a multibillion-pound change.
industry. Studies have found that many farmers
live below the international poverty line.
