How is COVID-19 affecting the Coffee Supply Chain?
The COVID-19 pandemic has influenced many people’s
lives from socially distancing to staying at home, we’re finally getting to
grips with the new normal. Coffee is continuing to be consumed whether this is
from a takeaway coffee shop or within people’s home. However, what does the
pandemic mean for the coffee supply chain?
Why Is Coffee So Important to Farmer’s Livelihood?
Despite the Coronavirus pandemic restrictions being
put into place across the world, coffee business continues. Coffee is a product
that is agricultural where beans need to be grown and then processed. The
coffee bean is a very valuable export for many countries and generates income
for many people. It’s also a substantial producer of foreign revenues which is
then taxed and invested into key areas such as education, infrastructure and
health care. In many countries’ coffee is seen as a vital product. The
mainstream of coffee farms and business have been able to operate through these
unprecedented times.
What Are Some of the Obstacles Coffee Exporters & Producers Experiencing?
Exporting Coffee happens once a year, except from
in Colombia where the climate suits multiple harvests. Different parts of the
world have dissimilar seasons when they harvest their coffee. This means that
because of the difference in seasons, they’re facing diverse effects from
restrictions that have been put in place. Harvesting coffee cherries can
continue with social distancing, however, this could be on a smaller work force
meaning that less coffee cherries will be harvested. This has a knock-on effect
to incomes of workers who are typically paid by the amount of coffee they pick
and produce. Constraint on movement between countries is having huge effect on
the obtainability of work force and transportation issues. Many farms are still
dependent on manual labours. Many labourers often travel from different parts
of the country, which is proving difficult recently.
How Are Coffee Producers Being Helped?
Many coffee farmers are taking precautions to make
sure that farming of coffee can continue through the pandemic. These are
precautions that many of us will be familiar with ~ hand washing, social
distancing while harvesting the coffee, restrictions on meetings and rules on
keeping safe when on the farm. Communication is key when it comes to looking
after coffee farmers and this isn’t so easy. However, governments need to share
important information on how farms can keep working safely. One example of this
in happening in Columbia where a company have produced a radio message sharing
some guidance to farmland owners on how to protect their workers during this
difficult time.
Contact Us for Coffee Industry Consultancy
If you’re looking for coffee industry consultancy services and are your business is struggling because of the COVID-19 pandemic, look no further, we have the industry experience to meet your requirements. Please get in touch with our friendly coffee engineers on 02039 574 961 or you can click on the link below to contact us. We serve the UK and Ireland.