Coffee is the 2nd most actively traded commodity in the world and since 1990, retail sales have increased from 30 Billion to 80 Billion (USD). To the unenlightened ear, this sounds fabulous, however, I was disturbed to learn that during this same period, Ethiopian farmers have been receiving considerably less for the coffee they harvest and sell to buyers all over the world. In fact, as it is today, they are receiving 30 year lows...let me paint a clearer picture for you:
-Throughout Europe & the US, a cup of coffee is about $2.90 (or 36 Birr - Ethiopian Currency).
-Amount of money an average Ethiopian farmer receives for a kilo of cofeee is 2 Birr (or $0.16).
-Now you're probably wondering how many cups of coffee in a kilo? Answer- 80 cups.
There is no wonder why the coffee industry is so profitable...except that is, for the poor farmers in developing countries. Sadly, in Ethiopia, many of the farmers have chosen to dig up their coffee plants (which take 4 years to reach maturity, & 5 to produce quality beans) in exchange for planting chat, an exotic narcotic plant, which yields their family more money. Decendants from generations of coffee farmers can no longer hope to live a good quality life and instead are forced to sacrifice proper health care and education for their children. If farmers recieved fair prices for their coffee, which is well known and highly regarded throughout the world, they could provide for themselves and their families through their own labor and trade and not be dependent on aid (handouts).
I know we all like our Starbucks coffee (which arrives from the Sidamo region of Ethiopia by the way) but change can only occur when we as consumers, use our dollars to buy fairly traded coffee...ask your stores for fair trade coffee, even get it in the offices where you work.
I owe my awareness to the "Black Gold" movie. Check it out:
No comments:
Post a Comment