The Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA) says the challenges facing farmers who are seeking to profit from coffee cultivation are multiple.

Among these are the high cost of labour, fertilisers, organic manure, and agro-chemicals combined with “the low farm gate price for cherry coffee, which is sometimes below the cost of production”, JACRA outlined in a response on the industry provided to the Jamaica Observer.

JACRA is a statutory body which falls under the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

JACRA, which commenced operations on January 1, 2018, is an amalgamation of the Cocoa Industry Board, Coffee Industry Board, the regulatory functions of the Coconut Industry Board, and the Export Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

The body states that industry participants in coffee are also faced with brand and trademark infringement of Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee and Jamaica high mountain coffee on the world market.

Not to be left out are extreme weather conditions, sometimes tropical cyclones, floods, and droughts that from time to time affect production. There is also low productivity resulting from aged trees, low plant density on most farms, and suboptimal plant nutritional status in many cases.

Ancient trees

From the perspective of farmers, the regulatory authority recommends a phased replacement of the aged coffee trees which have become thrifty producers.

Jamaican coffee commences mature cherry berry production at about year three, reaching its peak production between year seven and year eight. Fruit development from flowering to maturity (cherry ripe fruit) ranges from 215 to 270 days.

The product transitions through various stages of processing, starting with the cherry ripe coffee stage when reaped by farmers for processing by licensees of JACRA. The processed green beans at the finishing stage are ultimately roasted and consumed as a world-class product from Jamaica.

Reasonable price

More can be done by processors and dealers to aid farmers, JACRA proposes. Foremost in helping the industry to recover, JACRA told Sunday Finance, is, “The coffee dealers consistently paying a reasonable farm gate price for the cherry coffee.”

JACRA recommends, “More farmers could form groups and seek to add value to the coffee and move up the coffee value chain. [They should] get registered so that they can be in a position to benefit from project funds and more.

The regulatory authority is also recommending that cultivators follow the training disseminated on good cultural practices and proper quality control procedures in handling coffee.

Asked about the role of Government in strengthening the industry, JACRA said this should involve, “where possible provide start-up stimulus funding for enthusiastic youngsters who wish to do coffee farming, and if possible, provide concessions on farming inputs and equipment”.

JACRA also identifies other industry challenges as including the “lack of a robust marketing thrust for coffee”.

JACRA believes that producers/dealers have primary responsibility for marketing, but they can be assisted. It states “a robust marketing thrust should be embarked upon jointly by the public and private sector interests”.