South American coffee growers may delay harvest this year and limit the number of workers they employ as the novel coronavirus pandemic continues to spread, threatening to reduce this year's crop of export-quality beans.
SAO PAULO/BOGOTA/NEW YORK - South American coffee growers may delay harvest this year and limit the number of workers they employ as the novel coronavirus pandemic continues to spread, threatening to reduce this year’s crop of export-quality beans.
Farmers, coffee traders and importers in top-consuming countries are concerned that the virus has not peaked in either Brazil or Colombia, and bringing workers together for harvest risks worsening the outbreak. In Brazil and Colombia, local governments have exempted some workers from restrictions on movement in order to avoid hurting food production, including coffee or port operations. Coffee deliveries rose 2.4% in March in Brazil, the latest month for which data is available, though exports are expected to have declined since. Prices rallied in March before declining nearly 10% in April.
“It has been hard to find protection equipment. We will start the harvest, but if people start to get sick I will stop and resume later,” said producer Thiago Motta, owner of Jatoba farm in the Cerrado region of Brazil’s Minas Gerais state.In Colombia, where farms are smaller and in mountainous areas, the harvest is mostly manual and demands many people in the coffee fields.
“It’s a very worrying situation because in some areas the harvest has already begun and in 15, 20, 30 days it will be in full swing,” he said.
Deutschland Neuesten Nachrichten, Deutschland Schlagzeilen
Similar News:Sie können auch ähnliche Nachrichten wie diese lesen, die wir aus anderen Nachrichtenquellen gesammelt haben.
South Korea reports 34 new coronavirus cases, highest in a monthSouth Korea reported 34 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, the highest daily number in a month, after a small outbreak emerged around a slew of nightclubs that a confirmed patient had visited.
Weiterlesen »
Sioux tribe rejects South Dakota governor request to remove Covid-19 checkpointsA Sioux tribe has rejected an ultimatum by South Dakota's governor to remove checkpoints on state highways within tribal reservations designed to prevent the spread of coronavirus
Weiterlesen »
South Dakota governor tells Sioux tribes they have 48 hours to remove Covid-19 checkpointsThe governor of South Dakota has given an ultimatum to two Sioux tribes: Remove coronavirus checkpoints on state and US highways within 48 hours or risk legal action.
Weiterlesen »