- Coffee crops in Colombia are flowering now, but the workers needed to pick those crops are affected by stay-at-home orders to battle COVID-19.
- It is not just coffee. Other fruits like watermelons and blueberries cannot make it to market. They are rotting on the fields or in transit.
- The lack of manpower could hurt the industry for a long time as many seasonal workers return home to Venezuela.
BOGOTA. That cup of joe that gets you moving in the morning could soon become much more expensive, and maybe even impossible to find, as Covid-19 decimates coffee production in Colombia.
As the pandemic deepens across Latin America, there are growing fears of widespread crop failures that could limit access to food in a region already struggling to feed people and affect supply chains globally.
As much as any other crop and due to a bad alignment of timing and how it is produced, coffee could be deeply impacted by the pandemic. Coffee trees flower twice a year, and one of those flowerings is happening right now. The 2019 harvest was the largest in 25 years, according to the National Federation of Coffee Growers, the guild that brings together all coffee growers in the country.
But now, Covid-19 is making picking the coffee beans “a very labor-intensive process that is generally done manually by tens of thousands of pickers” difficult. Colombia went into a full lockdown on March 25.
The agricultural sector is exempted from the lockdowns, but the coffee sector has still been severely disrupted. Coffee beans are generally picked by people and many of these people live what amounts to nomadic lives, travelling from one part of the country to the next working in coffee plantations. They often travel hundreds if not thousands of kilometers twice a year to move from one coffee growing region to the next. These migrant workers help growers pick up the fruits and sell them to national and international markets. Those pickers are at the base of the complex and rather long coffee supply chain that ends up in that all-important morning cup.
In Colombia, there are 930,000 hectares of coffee plantations spread across half the rural towns of the country. About 555,000 Colombian families depend directly on coffee farming for their livelihoods.
“We’ve got a huge challenge and a very large harvest highly concentrated on this month, May and early June,” Roberto Vélez, general manager of the National Federation of Coffee Growers, told a local radio station earlier this month.
According to Vélez, about 5 million coffee sacks (each weighting 60 kilograms) should be collected during the mid-year production, which is now at risk from a couple of factors. The first challenge is a lack of fruit pickers. The second challenge is the transportation and logistics issue created by the stringent shelter-in-place orders that have now been extended until at least May 11.
Not only coffee is at risk
Coffee is not the only product at risk in Colombia right now. Fields of watermelons, blueberries and strawberries are ready to be handpicked but most of the country’s manpower is under full lock down since March 25. Agriculture is exempted and sectors like manufacturing and construction will be exempted under strict bio-safety protocols but the shortage of manpower pose a significant hurdle.
“We are taking a gradual step forward that we want to be firm but safe. And within that firmness and that safety, there will be the security protocols,” Colombia’s President Ivan Duque said on April 21. “It is important to recover productive life, hand in hand with the protection of health and life.”
Duque’s words brought some hope to many industries that have been hard-hit by the lockdowns but the shortage of manpower that fruit growers are facing is a more insidious challenge. There are simply not enough workers travelling the country to harvest fields. And that means that crops are being left to rot.
This lack of manpower has already caused the loss of hundreds of hectares of fruit crops in Colombia.
What happened with watermelons in the northwest region of La Mojana is informative. In La Mojana over 1,600 hectares of watermelons were harvested but it was impossible to transport the fruits to markets due to traffic restrictions and logistics issues. And a lack of buyers has hit fruit sellers as well.
Less than 50 kilometers north from Bogota, the country’s capital, blueberry growers in a nearby town sent a dramatic SOS over WhatsApp:
“At this moment, the main inconvenience is the mobility of the fruit and of our workers,” they said. “It is not easy to take the fruit out [of the plantation] and some employees are unable to come. For shipments to cities other than Bogota, there’s no transportation available, and with so many checkpoints on the routes, it is hard for the fruits to make it in less than a week to other cities.” The fear is that the blueberries will simply rot during the long trips to other cities.
In an effort to help micro, small and medium companies, Colombia’s national government launched three credit lines that add up COP$16 billion ($4 billion) with guarantees of 80 percent and 90 percent for those companies that can keep people employed until the Covid-19 crisis is over. However, many entrepreneurs across the country complain that it is hard to access those credit lines at the banks.
Manpower flying away
And the lack of manpower is likely to get worse, further straining supply chains. Many companies are running short of cash (as they cannot get their product to market) but also the workers willing to work on the farms may disappear.
Over the past few years, about 2 million Venezuelans have fled the regime Nicolas Maduro’s regime and moved to Colombia.
These Venezuelan workers are key for the coffee sector by harvesting plantations at relatively low wages. Thousands of those migrants that were living in Colombia, set foot in North direction since the outbreak began in Colombia on March 6, and are marching back to their home-country through the country’s roads, escaping economic uncertainty in Colombia, while defying the shelter-in-place orders that don’t allow them to find a way of making a living on a daily basis.
According to Felipe Muñoz, presidential advisor for the migratory crisis, more than 35,000 thousand Venezuelans have moved back to their home country despite the fact that the borders are officially closed. The border between Colombia and Venezuela is 2,200 kilometers long and it is not hard to find a spot that is not surveilled.
And with no rural workers from Colombia or Venezuelan migrants to do the picking, coffee growers like those in Planadas, Tolima, are desperately trying to convince neighbors in the town to help pick coffee beans.
“We are a little bit worried about the shortage of manpower for handpicking the coffee harvest,†Willington Gutiérrez, a coffee grower, told RCN Radio. “We have tried to create awareness with the people. For example, the one that was food-seller on the street, or the one who had a micro or small business, that now has no other alternative, could come and give us a hand, since we are going to really need it here in the land.”
Coffee growers estimate that between three and four people are needed to pick one hectare of coffee. Planadas alone needs some 40,000 workers to get coffee beans to markets, markets that are now paying about US$2.50 per kilogram of coffee.
I savour, le?d to I found exactly what I was looking for.
You have ended my 4 ?ay lengthy hunt! God Bless yo?
man. Have a great day. Bye
Yo?r style is so uni?ue compared to ?ther people I’ve
read stuff from. Many thanks for p?sting when you have the opportunity, G?ess I will just book mark this web s?te.
Rema?kable! Its actually remarkable article, I have got much clear idea ?n the topic of from this piece of ?riting.
It’s not my f??st time to go to see this site, i am browsing this website dailly ?nd obtain pleasant
data from here daily.
Its ?ike you read my mind! You seem to know a lot about this, like you wrote t?e book in it or ?omething.
? think that you coul? do wit? some pic? to drive the message home a bit,
but other than that, this is magnificent blog. A fanta?tic
read. I’ll definit??y be back.
Ve?y good info. Lucky me I recently found your ?ite by chance (stumbleupon).
I ?ave saved ?s a favorite for later!
?’m really impressed ?ith your writing a?ilities as well as with t?e
structure in your blog. Is this a paid subject m?tter or did you customize
it yourself? Either way k?ep up the nice quality
writing, it’s uncommon to peer a nice blog like this one to?ay..
Y?u can definitely see ?our enthusiasm in the article
you ?rite. The world hopes for more pass?onate wr?ters l?ke you wh?
are not ?fraid to mention how th?y believe. At all times go after you? hea?t.
?his pa?agraph will help the ?nternet viewers for building up new web site or
even a blog from start to end.
Very good blo?! ?? you have any suggesti?ns f?r aspiring
write?s? I’m planning to start my own blog soon but I’m a little
lost ?n everything. Would you p?opose st?rting with a free p?atform l?ke WordPress or go for a pai?
option? ?here are so many opti?ns out there that I’m t?tally confused ..
Any recommendations? Che?rs!
?aved as ? favorite, ? lo?? your web
site!
Saved ?s a favorite, I like your website!
Thanks for sha?ing your thoughts. ? real?y appreciate your effort? and I am
waiting for your fu?ther write ups thanks once again.
I ?on’t even know the w?y I finished up right he?e, however I thought thi? put up was good.
I don’t ?ealize who you are however ?ertainly you are going t? a famous blogger shoul? you aren’t
already. Cheers!
Hiy?! Quick question that’s completely off topic.
Do you know how to m?ke your site mobile friendly?
My blog looks we?rd when ?rowsing f?om my iphone.
I’m try?ng to find ? template or ?lugin that might be
able to correct this problem. If you have any recommendations, p?ease
share. With thanks!
Ve?y go?? a?ticle. I’m facing a few of
these issues as well..
It’s very effort?ess to find out any topic
on net as compared to textbooks, ?s I found this paragra?h at this site.
I just lik? the helpful information you provide to your articles.
I’ll bookmark ?our weblog and tak? a look at aga?n here fre?uently.
I’m fairly sure I will learn plenty of new stuff prop?r right here!
Best of luck for t?e next!
Does ?our site hav? a contact page? I’m hav?ng
a tough t?me lo?ating it but, I’d like to shoot you an e-mail.
I’ve got some creative ideas for your b?og yo? might ?e
interested in hearing. Either way, great s?te and I look forward to seeing it improve over time.
?t’s really a cool and useful piece of info. I am happy that you just
share? t?is ?e?pful information with us. ?lease
stay us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.
constant?y i used to read smaller articles which also clear thei? mot?ve, and that is also happening with
this piece of writ?ng which I am read?ng at t?is time.
If som? one wish?s exp?rt ?iew about ?unning a blo?
after that i recommend ?im/her to go t? s?e this blog, K?e? up the pleasant job.
He?lo my lov?d one! I wi?h to say that this article is amazing,
ni?e written and include almost all important infos.
I’d li?e to see more posts like this .
? used to be able to find good ?dvice from your articles.
Greetings! I know th?s is s?mewhat off topic but
I was wond?ring if you knew w?ere I could locate a captcha ?lugin for my c?mment form?
I’m using the ?ame blog ?latform as yours and I’m having trouble finding one?
Thanks a lot!
Undenia?ly believe that which you said. You? favorite reason appeared to
be on the internet the easiest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I
cert?inly get ann?yed while people consider worries that they just don’t
know about. ?ou managed to hit the nail upon th? top and also defined
out the whole thing without having side effect
, ?eo?le can t?ke a signal. Will probably be back to get more.
Thanks
Qu?lit? posts is the crucial to invite the users to pay a ??sit the web
page, that’s what this ?ite is provid?ng.
H?ya i’m for the first time he?e. I came acr?ss this
board and I find It really useful & it helped me out much.
I ?ope to give something back and hel? others lik? you aided me.
?f some one wants to be updated with latest t?chnologies then he
must be go to see this web page ?nd b? up to dat? ever? day.
?ello there! This article cou?dn’t be written any better!
Looking through this a?ticle reminds m? of my previous roommate!
He c?ntinually kept talking about this. I’?l
send this post to him. Pretty sure he’s going to have a
very good read. Thank you for sharing!
Ex?ellent post. I certainly lov? this website.
Continue the good ?ork!
Hello! ? just would like to offer you a huge thumbs up for the great information you have
g?t here ?n this post. I am coming back to your web site for mo?e soon.
?i, yeah this paragraph is ?enuinely good and I have learned lot of things from ?t
on the topi? of blog?ing. t?anks.
We’r? a gaggle of volunteers and opening a brand new scheme in our
community. Your web site offered us with v?luable information to work on. You have done a fo?mid?ble activity and our who?e group shall be grateful to you.
May I j?st say what a comfo?t to find ?omebody who really knows what they are talking
about on the internet. You definitely know h?w to bring a problem
to light and make it important. More and more pe?ple need to read this and understand this
side of your story. I was surpr?sed you aren’t more popular ??ven that yo? most
certainly possess the gift.
It’s genuinely very difficult in t?is busy life to listen news
on Telev?sion, thu? I ?nly use web for that purpose, and obtain th? newest information.
?ood day! This is my first visit to your blog!
We are a group of volunteers and starting a new initiative in ? community in the same
niche. Your blog provid?d us valuable inform?tion to work on. You have done a outstanding job!
I a??ays s?ent my half ?n h?ur to read this blog’s content every day al?ng with
a cup of coffee.
I ?sed to b? suggested this web site by way of my cousin. I’m now not sure
whether t?is p?blish i? written through him as no one else recognize such
cert?in ?pproximately my trouble. You’re ?onderful!
Thank you!
This i? a topic which is clos? to my heart… ?est wishes!
W?ere are yo?r contact details though?
?owd? very nice blog!! M?n .. Excellent .. Amazing .. I will bookm?rk your website and take
the feeds al?o? I am satisfied to search ?ut a
lot of helpful informat?on ?ere in the submit, we’d like deve?op more technique? on this regard,
thank you for sharing. . . . . .
This info is inva?uable. How can I find out more?
?ey! I’m at work surfing around your blog from my
new a?ple iphone! Just wanted to say I love reading through your ?log and look
forward to all your posts! Keep up th? fanta?tic work!
It is actually a gr?at and ?elpful piece ?f information. I’m ha?py t?at you simply shared thi? helpful info with us.
Please keep us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
I kno? th?s ?f off topic but I’m looking into start?ng my own blog ?nd was
wonde?ing what all is needed to get set up? I’m assuming h?ving a blog like
yours wo?ld cost a pretty penny? I’m not very web smart so
I’m not 100% p?sitive. Any suggestions or advice would b?
greatly appreciated. Thank you
After I originally l?ft a comment I appear t? h?ve clicked the -Notify me when new comments are ad?ed-
checkbox and now whenev?r a comment ?s added I get 4 emails with the exact s?me comment.
Is ther? a way you are able to remove me from that
s?rvice? T?ank you!
?h my goodness! Amazing article du?e! ?hanks, However I
am having troubles with your RSS. I d?n’t know the reason ?hy I am unable to subsc?ibe to it.
Is there anybo?y having identical RSS issues? Anyone t?at
knows the so?ution w?ll you kindly respond? Thanks!!
It is perf??t tim? to make a few plans for the future and it’s
time to be happy. I’ve learn this submit and
if ? may just I desire to recommend yo? some interesting things or ?dvic?.
Perhaps you ?an write subsequent articl?s re?arding
this ?rticle. I wish to read more issues approximately it!
Hi there ev?ryone, it’s my first pay a quick visit ?t this web pa?e,
and article ?s truly fruitful for me, keep up posting t?ese content.
Ahaa, its nic? discussion concerning this post here at this website, I hav?
read all that, so at this time me also commenting ?t this place.
Great blog here! Also your website lo??s up fast!
?hat ?eb ho?t a?e you ?sing? Can I g?t your aff?liate l?nk to your host?
I wish my web site ?oade? ?p as quickly ?s yours lol
Fantastic blog you ?ave here but I was wond?ring if ?ou knew of any message board?
th?t cover the same topics t?lked ?bout ?ere? I’d really like to be a part of online community where I
can get comments from other knowledgeable people that share the same
interest. If you have any recommendati?ns, please let me know.
Many thanks!
Pl?ase let me ?now if yo?’re looking for a a?ti?le w?iter for
your blog. You have some really gr?at posts and I
think I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of
t?e load off, I’d ?ove to write some ?ontent for
your blog in exchange for a link back to mine.
Please send me an email ?f interested. Many th?nks!
?antastic blog! Do you ha?e any tips for aspiring writers?
I’m hoping to start my own web??te soon but I’m a little lo?t on everything.
Would you recommend starting ?it? a free ?latform like WordPress
or g? for a p?id option? There are so many options out there that I’m tot?lly overwhelmed ..
Any i?eas? Many thanks!
Hmm is anyone else expe?iencing problems ?ith the ?ictures on thi? blog load?ng?
I’m trying to determine if its a ?robl?m on my end or if it’s th? blog.
Any responses would be greatly appreciate?.
Sp?t on with this ?rite-up, I tr?ly feel this web site
needs far more attention. I’ll probabl? be back
again to see more, th?nks for the info!
Hello, i ?ead your b??g occasionally and i own a s?milar one
and i was just wondering if you get a lot of spam responses?
If so how do you stop it, any plugin or anything you can advise?
I get so much lately it’s dr?ving me insane so any help is
very much ap?reciated.
Buy legal anabolic steroids https://myfsk.org/community/account/buy-legal-anabolic-steroids/?h=20557c994ef3e698897d210abf2a9513&