The ongoing coffee crisis in Chiapas that caused the exodus of thousands of peasants

The coffee production in Chiapas goes through one of his worst crises in recent years. Nail persistent plague, attached to the price drop and the lack of investment, caused land abandonment and the migration of various producers, who had their livelihoods only in the cultivation of coffee plantations.

Nestled in southeastern Mexico, Chiapas is one of the first major coffee producing countries of the country with an annual production of 200 000 tonnes and more than 140 000 producers that grow about 220,000 hectares in 89 municipalities, according to the agency Efe.

But the state has suffered serious badignment in his coffee plantations because of rust, a fungus which directly affects the coffee tree it does not allow it to produce its fruits until it causes death. The plague has not been controlled and has already invaded thousands of hectares.

This, coupled with the low price of coffee and the lack of field fundingbecause thousands of producers are at the limit, without being able to settle the debts contracted to save their crops and their plantations.

In addition, this caused a collapse of the activity, according to Jorge Argüello Reyna – representative of the San Francisco de Asís agro-ecological center, which accompanies the Mayan network of producers-, who added that investment has come to less as a result of the 2008 financial crisis.

"The state has stopped investing or finance a lot agricultural activity. In 1993, 100% of the credits 50% were refaccionario, were in the long term, 50% were granted. Today, low credit is divided into 90% avio and 10% refaccionario, which means that there is no long-term investment and that makes the land stop farming, "he said.

Coffee production in danger

At this stage the activity could disappear in the next years if immediate solutions are not sought because every day less coffee is grown and the demand is great in the country and for export. In addition, this situation forces producers to leave the field and emigrate.

"Chiapas has become the last five years the main expeller of work. According to official data published by the Institute of Mexicans Abroad, those of Tijuana are in total half a million Chiapas product of this crisis, "said Argüello.

He pointed out that more 70% of producers they are with the noose around their neck since the rust made lose 70% of production, "a loss that we estimate at over $ 30 billion a year due to falling prices, rust and lack of investment"

"It's raining in the wet" Argüello said the product was selling for nearly 3,000 pesos ($ 158) a pound three years ago.

L & # 39; entity produces high quality coffeewith exports mainly in the United States and in various European countries.