What Is El Niño Doing to Colombian Coffee Production? http://buyorganiccoffee.org/1614/what-is-el-nino-doing-to-colombian-coffee-production/ The weather effects of El Niño are unpredictable. The last time it hit Colombia torrential rains damaged coffee crops. This time around there is drought in large parts of the Eje Cafetero. In some parts the drought is so bad that the coffee growers association (FNC) and the government are discussing ways to support coffee growers struck by El Niño as reported in vendingmarketwatch.com. Concerned about the repercussions that El Niño is having on the income of Colombian coffee growers, the National Committee met today to discuss strategies to support coffee growers. Different support alternatives will now be evaluated in teams and presented during the next Committee meeting. Evaluate, with the Department of Social Prosperity, the possibility of granting access to coffee growing families to socioeconomic stabilization programs that satisfy basic needs. The Minister of Agriculture will evaluate with the Banco Agrario and Finagro issues related to credit in the coffee-growing sector. This will include favorable loans for renovation using the zoca procedure. Explore the feasibility of launching a program to reactivate coffee production. The program will include crop and zoca renovations to recover coffee plantations affected by El Niño and will be funded by the National Coffee Fund and the Government of Colombia. Many growers have been badly hurt and need help because of the drought. However not all growers are in trouble and, in fact, overall Colombian coffee production is up! Colombian Coffee Production Rises Despite Drought The Latin American Tribune reports that Colombian coffee production is up 7% for the fiscal year March 2015 to February 2016. Colombia produced 1.09 million 60-kilo (132-pound) bags of coffee last month, a 7 percent increase over February 2015, the National Coffee Growers Federation, or FNC, reported. Output from March 2015 through February 2016 totaled 14.2 million bags, up 16 percent from the previous 12-month period. Despite the recent increase in production growers are concerned about pests such as the coffee borer beetle which tends to thrive in drought conditions.

2. The weather effects of El Niño are
unpredictable. The last time it hit Colombia
torrential rains damaged coffee crops.

3. This time around there is drought in large
parts of the Eje Cafetero. In some parts the
drought is so bad that the coffee growers
association (FNC) and the government are
discussing

4. ways to support coffee growers struck by El
Niño as reported in
vendingmarketwatch.com.

5. Concerned about the repercussions that El
Niño is having on the income of Colombian
coffee growers, the National Committee met
today to discuss strategies to support coffee
growers.

6. Different support alternatives will now be
evaluated in teams and presented during the
next Committee meeting.

7. Evaluate, with the Department of Social
Prosperity, the possibility of granting access
to coffee growing families to socioeconomic
stabilization programs that satisfy basic
needs.

8. The Minister of Agriculture will evaluate with
the Banco Agrario and Finagro issues
related to credit in the coffee-growing sector.
This will include favorable loans for
renovation using the zoca procedure.

9. Explore the feasibility of launching a
program to reactivate coffee production. The
program will include crop and zoca
renovations to recover coffee plantations
affected by El Niño and will be funded by the
National Coffee Fund and the Government
of Colombia.

10. Many growers have been badly hurt and
need help because of the drought. However
not all growers are in trouble and, in fact,
overall Colombian coffee production is up!

11. Colombian Coffee Production Rises
Despite Drought

12. The Latin American Tribune reports that
Colombian coffee production is up 7% for
the fiscal year March 2015 to February
2016.

13. Colombia produced 1.09 million 60-kilo
(132-pound) bags of coffee last month, a 7
percent increase over February 2015, the
National Coffee Growers Federation, or
FNC, reported.

14. Output from March 2015 through February
2016 totaled 14.2 million bags, up 16
percent from the previous 12-month period.

15. Despite the recent increase in production
growers are concerned about pests such as
the coffee borer beetle which tends to thrive
in drought conditions.

16. A major threat to coffee crops in various
locations throughout the world is the coffee
borer beetle. Hypothenemus hampei, its
scientific name, is a small beetle native to
Angola in Southern Africa.

17. Over the 20th century it spread to the
Americas and to Hawaii. The coffee borer
beetle is a threat to coffee crops wherever it
is found. In the Latin American regions
where the pest if found it goes by the names
barrenador del café, gorgojo del café and
broca del café.

18. Infestation is spread via the inadvertent
transport of infected beans. The primary way
to continue to produce healthy organic
coffee when there is an infestation is to hand
sort the beans and dry promptly after
picking.

19. Various organic approaches can be used to
deter and destroy the pest while maintaining
an organic crop and organic coffee
certification.

20. Problems for drought stricken coffee growing
areas of Colombia will not stop with the dry
weather but will continue with the threat of
plant infestations such as coffee borer beetle
on weakened coffee plants.