Help a Coffee Plantation Org Solve These Problems
A coffee plantation is a place where coffee grows. Many people are employed by coffee plantations as their main source of income. Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world, but it is not without its problems. Child labor and climate change are among the most serious problems faced by coffee plantations. Thankfully, coffee plantation orgs are stepping in to help solve these issues. The following are just a few of the ways you can help.
Land-use dynamics in coffee plantations
Land-use dynamics are essential for planning effective natural resource management policies and to understand the dynamics of a particular landscape. In this study, changes in land use were measured in three production basins: Haut-Nyong, Noun, and Moungo. Land-use class areas during the first and second periods were determined. They were divided into five types: forest/agroforest, valley vegetation, cropland, and cleared forest.
The changes in land-use patterns in coffee-growing areas have impacted coffee production in many ways. The largest areas of coffee production are in Haut-Nyong, while the smallest are in Noun and Moungo. The deforestation of these agroforests is primarily due to abandonment of coffee farms and anthropogenic factors such as climate change. In recent years, however, there has been an increase in cocoa-coffee production, encouraged by sectoral Ministries. While this is an encouraging trend for cocoa-coffee production, it seems to be reducing the number of coffee-producing areas. The area of forest in these areas is largely due to Elaies guineensis and Theobroma cacao.
Child labor
The International Labor Organization (ILO) defines the worst forms of child labor in agriculture, and child labor on coffee plantation is one of the worst cases. Children are often employed to pick coffee beans or pick weeds. While the ILO recognizes child labor as a serious issue, the coffee industry continues to violate ILO standards. Child labor on coffee plantations is a serious violation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which condemns child labor and promotes child protection.
About 20% of the children in coffee-growing countries suffer from labor exploitation in the coffee cultivation industry. Overheads force children to work long hours in hot conditions and are often unaware of the importance of education. Child labor is socially acceptable in many areas of Vietnam, and in the Central Highlands, it is nearly eliminated. But there are still thousands of child workers in the coffee industry. Child labor is often the only way to help a family survive. And children who work on coffee plantation are also often subject to forced labor and human trafficking.
Intensification
There are several implications of increasing the intensity of coffee production. The effects on farmer income and livelihood are unclear and could include increased input and labor costs, frequent plantation renovations, and environmental impacts. In addition, reduction of shade trees can lead to a wider spread of food insecurity in smallholder farmers, who rely on the fruits and vegetables grown on their farms as part of their daily diets. The effects of intensification of coffee production are largely dependent on how high the coffee price is.
The results showed that the intensity of coffe plantation is associated with greater economic and social benefits as well as increased risks for the environment. The process of intensification has been successful in increasing crop yields and productivity per hectare. Farmers can also decrease the area planted with coffee and replace it with other crops, thus diversifying the landscape. However, it is important to note that increasing productivity on a large scale has its risks and must be complemented with measures that can mitigate these costs.
Impacts of climate change
As global warming continues, coffee is one of the foods facing potential extinction because of climate change. The ubiquitous beverage plays a huge role in the lives of millions of people, transcending its status as a simple beverage. It has multiple uses, including being a community hub, a source of energy, a subject of connoisseurship, and an industrial behemoth. With more than 120 million people dependent on coffee for economic and nutritional purposes, climate change is a threat to this industry.
According to one model, the area suitable for coffee growing could decrease by up to 50% in the future. This is particularly true for lower-elevation coffee farms. However, the good news for coffee producers is that climate change may increase the growing conditions of coffee in several regions, including many in Latin America and Africa. In addition, coffee farming in these regions may require land-use changes that result in a loss of biodiversity. Additionally, deforestation increases greenhouse gas emissions.