El Salvador Coffee producing area Sonsonate Province IzaIco area Santa Ana Volcano area

[organic planting]:

The civil war in the 1980s made many coffee farmers in war zones unwilling to spend agricultural fertilizer on coffee plantations, resulting in the fact of "organic planting". After the war, coffee plantations with organic cultivation were set up with the assistance of the government, and many of them obtained the Eco-ok certification of the Rainforest Alliance (Rain forest-Alliance). At present, 2000 hectares of coffee plantations are organically certified, and another 2000 hectares are in the process of being certified (it takes three years from application to obtaining organic certification).

[planting profile]:

In the 19th century, coffee in El Salvador was an important cash crop, and the government legislated to collect taxes and encourage planting and export. although coffee farmers in El Salvador could not get technical or financial assistance, they were in the growth of production per hectare, it is quite excellent among many coffee-producing countries! The output value of coffee is like a locomotive, which contributes a lot to the basic transportation construction, the development of light industry and even the progress of mechanization.

The country has 10 per cent forest cover, of which more than 80 per cent is natural shaded woodland, which is ideal for the planting of coffee trees (shade grown coffee), which is very important for the Central American ecological corridor (Central American Biological Corridor). But in 1970, there was a serious coffee leaf rust spot (coffee leaf rust disease). In order to expose coffee trees to the sun, many shade trees were cut down! This has caused a lot of environmental damage! But the civil war has also formed a turning point for the environment!

The civil war in 1980 caused government forces and guerrillas to deal a blow to the coffee industry, as well as natural disasters

And the sharp drop in international raw bean prices between 1986 and 1987 have had a negative impact on the coffee industry. in fact, 80 years ago, the foreign exchange earned by coffee also assisted the country's clothing industry and contributed to the Ministry of Light Industry.

And the marketing and export controlled by the government is even more disadvantageous to the whole industry! In the first year of the establishment of Incaf'e, coffee production fell from 175000 tons in 1979 to 141000 tons in 1986, of course, as a direct result of producers' reluctance to invest again; Incaf'e not only charged 50% of the export price of raw beans but also often delayed payment! Natural disasters and man-made disasters have led to good opportunities for organic planting. Of course, producers also realize that good coffee can have a good price. With both substance and environmental protection, sa coffee has a good start!.