The coffee production chain is responsible for the largest distribution of wealth in Brazil. Currently, 90% of the export price is passed on to producers.

No doubt a great achievement for the coffee production sector, which is crucial from an economic and social point of view of the country, since it drives a chain with more than 300,000 producers and around 2 million hectares of land throughout Brazil, generating over 8.4 million jobs.

Hard work was needed to reach this more than positive level. Over the years, the industry invested heavily and above the agribusiness market average in awareness campaigns and on encouraging the promotion of good working conditions and sustainability.

Today, there are a number of campaigns and public coffee farming training programs, conducted by organizations such as the Technical Advisory and Rural Extension Enterprise (EMATER), the Capixaba Research Institute, Technical Advisory and Rural Extension (Incaper) and the Integral Technical Advisory Coordination (CATI), which are fundamental in improving the training of professionals, resulting in a more professional and productive management of crop farming, reducing costs and increasing income for the entire coffee chain.

Cecafé, with the support of its members, has invested more than R$ 7 million on building digital classrooms in public schools located in coffee producing regions and training farmers and coffee workers, through the Informed Producers Program. The program has existed since 2003 and has trained more than 1,200 producers. This year, in partnership with the Sustainable Coffee Program (PSC), Cecafé aims to train 2000 producers and workers in coffee production, through classes on information systems and good agricultural practices, which will be conducted by experienced technicians from partner organizations, Emater -MG, Emater-RO, Incaper -ES, Agrifis-ES, Via Verde, Fundação Neunam and Cooxupé.

As a result of this wide-reaching and important work, around 20% of the production units in the country are now certified by the largest and most prestigious institutions in the world, such as UTZ Certification, the Rainforest Alliance, the 4C Association and Fairtrade, as well national organizations such as CertificaMinas and organic coffee stamps. In addition, all professionals in the coffee production chain are engaged in the CLT regime, with all the benefits provided by law (13th monthly salary, vacation pay, and the severance indemnity fund).

Undoubtedly these achievements have all lead us to our absolute conviction that the coffee industry in Brazil is on the right track. It is essential to continue this work step by step so that we can continue to grow and to generate more and more wealth throughout our chain.

 

Nelson Carvalhaes – Cecafé President