Fraijanes, Nuevo Oriente, Huehuetenango and Antigua not only share being coffee growing regions; They also face a staff absence of between 20 and 30 percent, specifically in grain harvesting tasks, in a context of growing migration. These figures come from the National Coffee Association (Anacafé).
A factor that mitigates this phenomenon is the loss of job attractiveness for Guatemalans, mainly due to the fact that coffee pickers usually have temporary contracts. For this reason, the sector has sought incentives such as fixed contracts and coverage of food and lodging expenses.
Another significant incentive is to provide training and technology to producers, increasing their chances of competing and being profitable, which can help indirectly combat migration.
Sergio Mazariegos, executive coordinator of the Differentiated Coffee Committee at Agexport, points out that the main problem for coffee competitiveness is the shortage of labor. Added to this are pests, the devaluation of the product and the working conditions that influence the acceptance of jobs by the collectors.
Increased costs, competition and the need for more pickers at the optimal time of grain ripening have led producers to reduce their profits or emigrate to other countries.
Mazariegos considers that the integration of new technologies is crucial to improve the productivity and sustainability of Guatemalan coffeenot only to control pests and diseases such as the coffee borer, but also to train producers to maximize yields with available resources.
Access to technology, the key
Sergio Mazariegos explains that, in addition to cultural management such as traps and grain collection after harvest, the use of insecticides remains a necessary option. However, he highlights that access to advanced technologies is what really allows us to obtain more resistant and higher quality crops.
Precisely, there are technologies that work as a “vaccine” for the coffee harvest, making it more productive. José Marín, from Grupo Iñesta, an international supplier, details that the defense induction technology is based on activating the plant’s natural defense mechanisms against pathogens.
“The problem is that producers usually act only when the pest is already present. This technology is preventive and activates the plant’s immune system, functioning as a shield,” explains Marín.
Marín also warns about the need to avoid agricultural practices that deteriorate soils and reduce their capacity to retain water and nutrients, as this can reduce coffee productivity. “It is crucial to work on improving soil structure with fulvic acids (substances used to improve plant growth) to form larger agglomerates and facilitate plant access to nutrients”Add.
Another company that recently visited Guatemala, Catalysis, represented by its director for Latin America, the US and Canada, Juan Alberto Soler, mentions that tools such as molecular activation have reduced diseases such as rust, allowing oxidants to be neutralized and improved health. of plants without the use of agrochemicals.
These technologies were presented in the last edition of Agritrade, in 2024.
The threat of the drill bit to profitability
The borer, an insect similar to beetles and one of the most harmful to coffee production, resides in the beans that remain in the ground after drying. Mazariegos points out that if this pest is not properly managed, it can reduce a company’s profitability by up to 20 percent.
“First, it is necessary to study the pest and then determine how to address it. Management includes the use of traps, harvesting grain after harvest, and treating contaminated grain with boiled water. Chemical control using insecticides can also be used. “Details Mazariegos.
Jose Tulio Gonzalezpresident of Anacafé, indicates that there are various tools available to control pests, but it is essential to learn to work with existing varieties and carry out all tasks in time to prevent these pests and diseases.
“We have conducted regional testing in our seven administrative offices across the country, evaluating pest varieties that we have not had before. In some regions, assessments are being done to provide coffee growers with information on the amount of coffee produced, its behavior according to the living areas of the country and the quality of the coffee in terms of tasting”explains González.
González adds that, by adopting these new agricultural, financial and administrative management techniques, it is estimated that the sector can improve its production or exports annually between 10 and 15% worldwide.
How to operate
According to him Bank of GuatemalaAs of February 2024, coffee is in fourth place as a product in importance, with US$122.4 million of the total amount of general trade exports, after cardamom, bananas and clothing items.
For international buyers, it is crucial to implement strategies that not only highlight the value of the product, but also ensure that the entire growing process, from start to finish, is of high quality.
In 2024, to boost the competitiveness of coffee, Estrada points out the need to offer accessibility to financial services for producers through credit. This year, Funds have been made available from a trust fund of the Ministry of Agriculture amounting to 20 million quetzales.
“Another goal is to form strategic alliances with all coffee sectors, such as Anacafé, to unify lines of action and attract international cooperation, who are also our consumers, to expand the practices of incorporating preventive technologies focused on increasing productivity,” he adds. Nick Kenner EstradaVice Minister of Rural Economic Development.
At Agexport, plans are being developed to promote Guatemalan coffee internationally. “One of Agexport’s strategies is direct trade, which facilitates a direct relationship with the producer through the Coffee Trade platform, where we invite international buyers and carry out product exhibition and coffee tasting activities. This is a way to increase productivity.
In addition, “we offer a Differentiated Coffee Export Diploma that covers everything from sustainability to training for all those interested in the coffee sector,” explains Mazariegos.
Anacafé also promotes the methodology of sustainable profitability, González details, which consists of teaching producers who own coffee plantations to be more profitable and produce more coffee with the available resources, including the implementation of irrigation technology to improve productivity.
“We are working on a campaign to promote coffee internationally, to improve national coffee growing. We also encourage producers to grow Robusta or Conilon Coffee, a grain that does not need to be grown in high altitude areas. We have observed an increase in demand for this type of coffee worldwide in the last two years, and we are promoting this crop to increase long-term sustainability,” adds González.
González emphasizes that Anacafé keeps its doors open for any collaboration, but it is crucial that, to be sustainable, better technological alternatives are offered to producers with whom they are looking for new options.
Migration, a challenge
Between January and March 2024, Guatemala has received nearly 20,000 deported migrants on more than 160 flights from the United States and Mexico, exceeding by more than 5 thousand people those of the previous yearaccording to the Guatemalan Migration Institute (IGM).
“To improve coffee productivity and combat migration, we must focus on transforming the economy, giving appropriate value to our agricultural products so that the socioeconomic impact of coffee reaches every corner of Guatemala. This means exploring more developed markets that value the quality of coffee.”explains Mazariegos.
González adds that one of the reasons why migration contributes to the decrease in labor is because people find better opportunities outside the country, opportunities that we must generate internally. There are small farmers, including some coffee growers, who have not achieved sufficient income to sustain a decent life.
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