Developing diversification initiatives
The economic performance and development prospects of many developing countries are largely dependent on commodity exports. The heavy dependence of such countries on a few commodities has in general had an adverse economic impact, with harmful consequences for growth and the reduction of poverty. Coffee provides a particularly important share of the export earnings of developing countries and the large number of growers who depend on coffee for most of their income are hard hit by falls in prices.
As part of its efforts to reduce the vulnerability of coffee producers, the ICO is promoting the development of a diversification programme. Such a programme would encompass efforts to undertake specific projects to generate complementary earnings for growers, such as by the introduction of new crops, without eliminating coffee growing itself. The ICO is also keen to support vertical diversification projects to seek out coffee types which can secure higher added value.
The Organization recognizes, however, that diversification options may be restricted. In many cases this may be because economic and infrastructure conditions are unfavourable for alternative options. Difficulties may also arise in access to consumer markets for many agricultural products as a result of protectionist measures taken by developed countries.
Diversification study
The ICO has conducted a study on diversification to explore opportunities and conditions for carrying out suitable programmes within the framework of the fight against poverty in coffee producing areas.
The study presented the concept and rationale of diversification.
Diversification can be both horizontal, involving alternative crops or economic activities, or vertical, developing new types of coffee products.
The aim is to rationalize production so that coffee grown on high-cost plantations, for example, can be replaced by other products, and to support activities which could raise complementary earnings for coffee growers and more effectively coordinated investment decision-making.
Obviously total production of coffee would be reduced in consequence.
A copy of the study can be downloaded from the ICO website (see document EB-3818/02).
The ICO has also reviewed past and present experiences of diversification in producing countries (as outlined in document EB-3860/04).
Consultations with multilateral agencies and Governments
The ICO Executive Director has held discussions on ways of cooperating on diversification with multilateral agencies such as the FAO, UNCTAD and the World Bank, and participated in an expert meeting on the diversification of production and exports in commodity dependent developing countries organized by UNCTAD.
Producing countries have been asked to inform the Executive Director of proposals for diversification projects and to identify areas for diversification to assist the Organization in investigating sources of funding.
Diversification projects
A project to reconvert small coffee farms into self-sustainable agricultural family units, sponsored by the ICO, was approved by the CFC in October 2005.
This project will provide alternative production and development options to alleviate the poverty of coffee-growing families through the introduction, in coffee farms, of new profitable agricultural activities that guarantee higher income levels, greater food security and preservation of natural resources. It will be implemented in Ecuador with dissemination activities in
A pilot project for production diversification of marginal coffee areas in the state of
Another project entitled “Worldwide comparative analysis of coffee-growing areas” and approved by the CFC in July 2003 developed a quantitative tool for assessing the competitiveness of coffee-growing areas, such as marketing and production costs. This tool was circulated as a CD-Rom to ICO Members in September 2003. The second part of this project analysed the potential for diversification in coffee exporting countries, and the main findings and recommendations were presented at a workshop organized in May 2006 by the Natural Resources Institute (NRI), the Project Executing Agency. The presentations made at the workshop are available on the Meetings/Documents - ICO workshops section of this website.
For more information about ICO projects on diversification click here.
