Diversification Strategies in Smallholder Coffee Systems

ABOUT THE TRAINING

Diversifying coffee farming is crucial for a thriving coffee industry and the well-being of small producers. In coffee farming, diversification refers to introducing new products to the farm so that coffee isn’t the farmer’s sole source of income. Yet there's still a lot of research that needs to be done.

The coffee diversification project brings together farmers, farmers’ cooperatives and researchers to learn together about what diversification activities work and why, in a farmer knowledge exchange. This project forefronts two coffee cooperatives, CESMACH & PRODECOOP, leaders in organizing to develop direct relationships with specialty coffee buyers that pay better prices, promoting practices that create alternative income streams, elevate women’s work, build climate resilience and conserve biodiversity.

WHY THIS TRAINING?

For farmers facing a changing climate and volatile pricing on the international commodity market, diversification means farming families are not wholly dependent on a single cash crop for export, providing more reliable income. Diversification also supports biodiversity and helps to protect crops from diseases. Ultimately, diversification helps the whole coffee industry to thrive.