Notes on the visit of Coffee Farmers in Colombia

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"do you know what happens to coffee in the lost COE game?" He asked. The author learned from the Rwanda competition that the batches that failed to win the prize would be "reduced" to the commercial level and sold in the local market. In my mind, I tried to translate "ten thousand bones withered", but in vain, I only replied, "this is the cruelty of the game." But as a trade union, why can't FNCC, like Ethiopia's ECX, sell coffee by grades and fight for a more reasonable price? " I wonder when this organization, which once owned its own banks, real estate and shipping companies, became unpopular in an era when the coffee export industry was the lifeblood of Colombia, fighting for the rights and interests of farmers since 1927.

Is that a help?

He shook his head and sighed: "the only union in the Colombian coffee industry is FNCC. Farmers have complained bitterly since the government signed free trade agreements with the United States and Europe last year. Although the consumption power of the European and American markets is relatively high, without supporting and supporting systems, the competitiveness of our products has declined; the costs of chemical fertilizers and pesticides are becoming more and more expensive, and after being handed down layer by layer, government subsidies eventually fall into the hands of farmers, and there is not much left. It costs $366 to produce a bag of coffee, but FNCC only promises a guarantee of $282. Is that a help? "

Trigger a nationwide protest.

"have you ever eaten Colombian cheese?" As soon as the conversation changed, he talked about other agricultural products. "now the European Union has pointed out that our Parmesan, Camembert and Manchego cheeses need to be renamed because they violate the trademark registration copyright (protected designation of origin) of the region of origin. How can small farmers who operate as families have spare money to cope with them?"

The author later searched for relevant reports and found that Colombian coffee farmers had led a series of nationwide protests in February last year under the name of the Colombian Coffee Farmers' Dignity Movement (Movement for the Dignity of Colombian Coffee Growers), including roadblocks on interstate highways and key roads leading to the Andes. Later, 30000 people from other agricultural producers, as well as miners, teachers and truck drivers participated to fight for different demands such as the timely delivery of grain by the Government, subsidized loans, subsidized oil prices, and so on. During a demonstration in the capital Bogot  in August last year, coffee farmers even clashed with riot police and needed tear gas to crack down. I am afraid the visiting farmer click me was one of those who were in the capital at that time.

Behind "free trade"

"We are not used to globalization, nor do we like the factory-like mode of production." He explained. "We are proud of our own coffee. There is healthy competition between the manors, and they will be neighbors and friends. In addition to coffee trees, we can grow other crops for consumption or sale. But since the arrival of big North American companies, everything has changed: they have induced farmers to give up planting other fruit trees and grow only coffee. They will also take over the production of the entire production area with a large trading volume, and when they become the only buyers in the area, they will? Lower the price by hand. At that time, the farmers will not have the capital to bargain, and they will also lose the skill of growing food to feed themselves. The price of coffee has dropped a lot in the past two years, and coffee, which we used to be proud of, has become a cheap commodity with cheap beans from Indonesia, Vietnam and Cambodia. At present, there are many farmers who are unable to continue their meals. "

It was thought that what he cited was the impact of Brazil's "mass production model" on quality. Unexpectedly, behind the "free trade", the farmers paid their blood and sweat, and even lost their freedom.

Patrick Tam (owner of the boutique coffee shop Knockbox, approved barista of the American Fine Coffee Association and European Fine Coffee Association, CQI recognized Cup tester in the United States, the first Hong Kong judge of Cup of Excellence