Challenges in the Coffeelands
Coffee farmers face countless challenges out of their control that prevent them from feeding their families.
Volatile Coffee Market
The coffee market is notoriously volatile, with prices driven by global speculation, weather patterns, and shifting demand—factors far beyond farmers’ control. This instability often forces farmers to sell their coffee at prices too low to cover production costs, leaving many unable to adequately feed their families or invest in their futures.
Gender Inequities
Women, who often play a central role in farming and family nutrition, face unequal access to education, resources, and decision-making opportunities, further compounding the food insecurity in their communities.
High Food Prices
In coffee-farming communities, the abundance of unhealthy, processed foods—combined with the high cost and inaccessibility of fresh, nutritious options—leaves families with limited choices, exacerbating food insecurity and poor health outcomes.
Lack of Farm Diversification
The lack of farm diversification in coffee-farming communities limits families’ ability to grow or produce other sources of food and income, leaving them exposed to economic stress and nutritional deficencies.
Effects of Climate Change
The effects of climate change, including unpredictable weather, rising temperatures, and increased pests and diseases, are disrupting coffee yields and reducing farmers’ ability to sustain their livelihoods and access nutritious food.
So many more…
Beyond these challenges, coffee-farming families face countless others, including inadequate access to education, limited healthcare, poor infrastructure, barriers to land ownership, and drug violence—all of which make it even harder to achieve stability, resilience, and a healthy future.