SMALL-SCALE COFFEE PRODUCTION (Coffea arabica L.) IN CHICONQUIACO, VERACRUZ, MEXICO

Abstract

An analysis of the reasons why producers continue to grow coffee (Coffea arabica L.), despite the low profitability and other factors that limit its continuity was made, and where the resources come from to subsidize these activities. Surveys were applied, supported by direct observation, field visits and in-depth interviews. The results indicated that 80 % of the producers are devoted to cultivating coffee because it is the most frequently produced crop in the zone, due to tradition and because it is the sole source of income, and because of its easy management, profitability and their experience with the crop (20%). It was found that 20% of coffee production is subsidized with resources from other agricultural and
livestock activities, complementing it with non-agricultural activities and the remainder is distributed for the basic needs of families, which are insufficient, so that producers have had to minimize the coffee-producing activities (pruning, cleaning, clearing). The number of hectares per producer in average is 2.5 ha, the production obtained in 2015 was 1462 kg ha^-1 with financial yields of $12945 MX, each kg of coffee in the locality was sold at $8.90 MX, with a production cost of $5.30 MX and earnings of $3.30 MX per kilo. The producers continue with the crop because the agroclimate conditions are not apt for others, so the coffee tree continues to be the most generalized.