Coffee cultivation is starting to pick up in Ghana
Officially launched in 2011, the Revamp Coffee Project (CRP) was organised by the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) as an attempt to revitalise the decaying coffee industry in the West African country.
Now, four years down the line, the results are becoming quantifiable – and they’re quite promising.
…continue reading Coffee cultivation is starting to pick up in Ghana
Coffee Berry Borer spreads to Oahu
Certain coffee growers in the U.S state of Hawaii are familiar with the coffee berry borer after struggling with the invasive pest for the past four years. But despite introducing a new action plan earlier on in the year, the insect has now spread and has begun to settle in previously borer-free areas.
Last Wednesday, the state Department of Agriculture (DoA) confirmed that the borer had been discovered on farms in Waialua, Oahu.
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Arson attack in Mukurweini – Coffee farmers blamed
A group from agitated and angry coffee farmers have attacked property and local businesses before moving onwards to a nearby coffee factory and setting that ablaze before fleeing upon the arrival of the police.
According to local reports the farmers are all predominantly affiliated with the Ramukia Co-operative, which is based in the Kenyan province of Mukurweini.
…continue reading Arson attack in Mukurweini – Coffee farmers blamed
Brazilian farmers forced to mechanise
After a torrid couple of years that have been plagued by volatile weather patterns and fluctuating prices, it appears that many of the smaller members found within the Brazilian coffee industry are relying on modern machinery as they cannot afford traditional labour costs in such a tumultuous market.
There has been an “intense trade in machinery,” reports Brazil’s supply agency Conab, especially within the main coffee growing areas in the states of Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais.
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What do we know about coffee farmers?
The world is becoming a smaller place, thanks to technology – we all know that.
However, when it comes to our daily cup of coffee, what do we really know about those who make it?
What are their lives like?
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Coffee seedlings are on their way to rural Tanzanian farmers
We all need a little help from time to time and many of the hundreds of coffee farmers in Tanzania are in for a little support, thanks to the ESSAB Tanzania Limited’s recent programme.
As reported in All Africa, the company has managed to secure some land to grow coffee seedlings and the destination of about 100,000 new coffee variety seedlings is the villages in the Mara Region.
The plants are to be distributed to local farmers free of charge, as the general plan is to kickstart coffee production in the area.
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New ideas for Indonesian coffee farmers
Indonesian coffee has something of a reputation, doesn’t it?
Many of us have heard of the famous luwak coffee, created by using coffee beans which have been selected and passed through a weasel-like animal called a civet – in fact, this is one of the most expensive and sought after coffees in the world.
However, although Indonesian coffee has been up with the top global coffee producers over the years, latterly there has been a concern that there is an inconsistency in quality.
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Help for Honduran coffee farmers
The old adage ‘give a man a fish, feed him for a day – teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime’ is a well-used one, but is no less potent because of the truth behind it.
This is something that Eric Harrison probably believes in, when you learn about his attempts to help Honduran coffee farmers.
As reported in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, Harrison has put his chemical engineering degree to very good use.
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Rainforest Alliance and coffee farmers
There was an interesting coffee news story on the Mother Nature Network recently, highlighting the good work done by the Rainforest Alliance in Guatemala.
In developing countries, campaigns to help the producers of coffee often reap rewards which spread far beyond simply increasing output.
For instance, under the Fair Trade scheme and also with the Rainforest Alliance movement, the improved income has a positive knock on effect on communities and their families too.
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Taiwanese students give coffee farmers a helping hand
Marketing is something that many people have to think about these days – in most areas of business, as well as focusing on the product which is being created, or the service which is being provided, individuals and companies alike have to turn their minds to ancillary issues, such as marketing, networking and publicity.
Often this marketing edge to business does not come naturally to those whose skills lie in other areas of the industry. As far as the coffee farmers of Tsou in Taiwan are concerned, it seems that help is at hand. The National Taiwan University has students who have, according to reports in the local online news, helped them with marketing issues for their coffee.
So how did the students help these farmers? What did they recommend? According to the Taipei Times, the programme was a collaboration between student and farmer, as part of an entrepreneurship programme. A couple of students would work with a farming household to create strategies for promoting their particular coffee beans. Apparently, this is especially important as Typhoon Morakot caused much damage in 2009 and the number of visitors attracted to the Danayigu Valley is said to have dropped to less than one sixth of previous levels.
Some of the ideas that the students came up with were to encourage farmers to embrace traditional costume by dressing in Aboriginal clothes from the Tsou tribe. There were some creative designs for the packaging too!