Farm productivity is a Coffee Farming frequent topic of conversation within the coffee industry. Global coffee farmers face significant challenges such as price volatility and persistent issues with pests and diseases, which Profitability contribute to low productivity rates.
However, by focusing on strategic investments in Coffee Farming specific areas of their farms, producers can make strides toward enhancing their productivity.
To gain deeper insights into farm productivity and its impact on profitability, I interviewed João Moraes from Yara and Sebastião Brinate from LSW Consultoria. Keep reading to discover their perspectives.
Maximizing Efficiency and Profitability
Before discussing how to boost productivity, it’s important to understand how it connects to profitability on coffee farms.
João Moraes, Director of Global Accounts at Yara—a leading crop nutrition company operating in over 60 countries—explains that coffee, as a perennial crop, requires time before it starts yielding results. Typically, it takes about three years after planting for a coffee field to become productive, meaning it can take years for the farmer’s initial investment to translate into profitability.
Sebastião Brinate, an agronomic engineer at Brazil-based LSW Consultoria, highlights that the link between productivity and profitability is crucial for assessing the economic sustainability of coffee farming. He states, “Profitability is closely tied to productivity. If a producer achieves high productivity, the cost per bag of coffee decreases.”
João adds that global coffee production amounts to roughly 170 million bags annually, cultivated over 10.5 million hectares, as per recent FAO data. This results in an average global productivity rate of 16 bags per hectare.
However, João points out that this figure poses a challenge. “For the majority of smallholder farmers, this productivity level isn’t economically viable. Even with premium prices for specialty coffees from specific origins, sustaining a livelihood with this income remains a significant struggle for producers.”
Due to these low productivity levels, many coffee farmers are unable to earn enough to both support their families and reinvest in their farms. As coffee trees age and their productivity naturally declines, this situation only becomes more difficult.
Factors That Affect Productivity
The productivity of a coffee plant is influenced by a variety of factors. These include the growing environment (such as soil quality, rainfall, altitude, latitude, and shade), the plant’s genetics, the escalating impacts of climate change, as well as farming techniques and soil management practices.
The Role of Genetics
One of the most straightforward factors influencing productivity is the species of coffee plant being cultivated. Of the more than 140 species in the Coffea genus, arabica and robusta account for over 99% of global coffee production.
Robusta plants generally offer higher yields, are more resistant to pests and diseases, and can thrive at a wider range of altitudes, with an optimal temperature range of 24 to 30ºC. In contrast, arabica plants tend to produce lower yields, are more susceptible to pests and diseases, and grow best at higher altitudes (above 800 meters). Arabica also prefers cooler climates, with ideal temperatures between 18 and 21ºC.
Despite the added challenges in cultivating arabica, it is known for producing superior and more desirable flavors, which command a higher price on the market.
Furthermore, within each species, there are numerous varieties (or cultivars), each with distinct characteristics that influence productivity and adaptability. Factors such as fruit size, bean density, plant dimensions, growth rate, and nutritional needs all play a role in determining yield.
Soil Health and Fertility
Soil fertility is closely tied to overall soil health. Like other plants, coffee trees absorb nutrients from the soil to fuel metabolic processes throughout their growth cycle. Various nutrients are essential for different stages, including root development, leaf formation, flowering, bean development, and ripening.
Unlike shorter-lived crops like soybeans or maize, coffee plants remain in the same soil long after harvest. Over time, without proper management, soil nutrients can become depleted or imbalanced, leading to reduced productivity.
João explains, “Soil fertility plays a key role in plant development, particularly during the early stages, and it is crucial for maintaining consistent productivity.” He emphasizes that soil analysis is a valuable tool for assessing the chemical and physical properties of the soil, such as pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and nutrient levels, which are vital to the plant’s performance.
João also notes that Yara works with partners in coffee-growing regions to review soil analyses and create balanced crop nutrition programs aimed at optimizing productivity.
Pest and Disease Management
Pests and diseases pose an ongoing challenge for coffee producers, and without effective management, they can lead to severe consequences. An infestation or fungal outbreak can result in significant crop loss and financial setbacks for growers.
While there are hundreds of pests and diseases that can impact coffee plants, some are more commonly encountered than others. Notable pests include the coffee berry borer, coffee leaf miner, and coffee mealybugs, while prevalent diseases include coffee leaf rust, coffee wilt disease, and pink disease.
João emphasizes that strong plant health begins with proper nutrition. Although well-nourished plants aren’t immune to pests and diseases, they are generally more capable of withstanding and recovering from such challenges than those that lack adequate nutrients.
He also mentions that enhancing nutrition through foliar applications (applying nutrients directly to the leaves) can optimize plant nutrition, promote better performance, and even boost resilience against pests and diseases.
Nutritional Strategies for Profitability
For coffee producers, profitability is shaped by four key factors: the price received for their product, production costs, yield, and quality of the crop. Since it’s challenging to minimize costs and coffee producers are primarily “price takers,” the two internal factors they can influence are yield and quality.
Enhancing the yield of coffee plants directly boosts farmers’ total revenue per hectare, subsequently increasing profitability.
Interestingly, this rise in yield (and thus profitability) is often not the result of increased fertilizer application, but rather stems from implementing a balanced crop nutrition program tailored to the specific potential of the cultivated land. This involves replenishing soil nutrients using the appropriate fertilizers and maintaining the right balance of nutrients, applied at optimal times and in correct doses.
Sebastião shares, “We conducted a study in collaboration with Yara at Sítio Recanto da Pedra Caparaó in Minas Gerais. In this experiment, we evaluated nitrate-based fertilizers from Yara (as a nitrogen source) against two other commercial fertilizers available in the area.”
He explains that to assess the effectiveness of each fertilizer, they measured the yield from plots using each type. They then compared the net value of product sales in Brazilian reals (R$) from these plots.
According to Sebastião, the Yara plot yielded an average of 47.87 bags per hectare, representing increases of 25.5% and 38.1% compared to the other two plots, respectively. Consequently, profits rose, with the Yara plot generating R$7,163.53 more for the producer than the second plot (a 23.5% increase) and R$10,237.55 more than the third plot (a 37.4% increase).
Enhancing productivity on a coffee farm can be challenging. However, by implementing best practices at the farm level, producers can boost the productivity of their plants.
Key practices include conducting thorough research, selecting suitable genetics, optimizing plant density and pruning, ensuring effective plant management, and, most importantly, establishing a balanced crop nutrition program. By adhering to these guidelines, producers can increase productivity, which will lead to lower costs per bag and ultimately enhance profitability.