As millions of ageing farmers set to retire, they are looking to their children to work on their labor-intensive coffee farms.
As millions of ageing farmers set to retire, they are looking to their children to work on their labor-intensive coffee farms. However, rather than following in the footsteps of their parents, many of their children are increasingly leaving the farms and migrating to cities in the hopes of finding better opportunities there. The younger generation no longer see coffee farming as a dependable source of income. And rightfully so, many of these children have witnessed their families’ poverty and hardships that come from innumerable challenges of growing coffee, everything from natural disasters, decreasing yields, abusive trade practices, local demand being stripped away by larger global corporate coffee chains, to a lack of infrastructure. For most of them, migration to cities is not a choice, but a necessity.
Unless coffee farming becomes a more sustainable livelihood in the long-term, there may be no one left in the farms to grow the coffee we love so dearly. Thus, the challenge for us is how to make a career in coffee and coffee farming truly compelling for young, passionate, and talented people.
Over the years, The Coffee Heritage Project has been getting more coffee enthusiasts interested on where their coffees come from, and in volunteering for seasonal work at local coffee origins. It is truly an inspiring scene seeing both coffee growers and enthusiasts working alongside at the farm.
Hopefully, our passionate coffee enthusiasts turn into coffee’s next generation of farmers!
For more on this topic, CHP shares this BBC documentary on why the world is running out of farmers, tap link to view video, https://bbc.in/37iGFDK
ReadAt the Moment gives us a sneak peek of the happenings at the recently concluded Manila Coffee Festival 2024
ReadDTI Region 12 secured total sales of Php 13,625,464 for the six participating coffee micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) of the region after participating in the Manila Coffee Festival.
ReadPhilippine coffee entries Kalamansig Coffee and Kulaman Coffee from Sultan Kudarat won Paris Gourmet Medals at the highly prestigious ninth International Contest for Coffees Roasted at Origin.
ReadA celebration of Philippine coffees, Filipino coffee growers, and Filipino coffee culture, is finally happening on March 17, 18, and 19, 2023 at the MGBX Convention Hall, Pasay City, Metro Manila.
