The world’s most beloved beverage which comes from some of the most economically challenged countries in the Global South is being severely hit during the COVID 19 pandemic.
In Asia, some of the best coffee is grown in the Gayo’ Highlands of Central Aceh where approx. 90 percent of people directly or indirectly depend on coffee farming as their main source of livelihood. Due to the current crisis, the farmgate price of Gayo coffee has reduced by 30-40 % as compared to the same period last year. This leaves the coffee farming communities at the bottom to face the brunt of multiple economic and social challenges on the ground.
As a response to the situation, Fairtrade coffee Cooperative Koperasi Produsen Bersama Mandiri Sejahtera; FLO ID 39976, along with the support from its trader, decided to take up a Fairtrade initiative to provide much-needed relief for its farmer members during the pandemic. This is yet another example of communities uniting their efforts to not only combat the current challenges but also to revive their supply chain in the long run.
While we get to sip our fav cuppa in the short term, the long-term impact of the current crisis on the global coffee supply chain is yet to be measured.
