The prime time for Robusta coffee farmers in Chumphon, Ranong and nearby provinces is during December-February. This is the harvesting season and the selling period of green coffee beans.

However, Robusta coffee farmers felt the impact of climate change during the latest harvesting season from the end of Year 2023 to the first quarter of Year 2024. Coffee started ripened in late November to December, compared the usual harvesting month in late October to November. It is evident that harvesting cycle happened later than usual. Moreover, coffee production decreased, its prices surged

Demonstration on Soil Stability Test

Coffee++ Thailand Project implemented by GIZ Thailand in collaboration with Nestle (Thai) Ltd held awareness raising activities at the buying stations in Chumphon and Ranong provinces during January – mid of March 2024. Project team members advocated coffee farmers on the cause of climate change and its impact on coffee production.

Soil aggregate stability testing sessions were also demonstrated so that farmers could monitor soil aggregate stability and identify the difference between healthy soil and common soil having low organic matter content. In addition, rainfall simulation test was demonstrated so that farmers could compare infiltration of soil samples of different aggregate stability.

Demonstration on Rainfall Simulation Test

Both demonstrations help farmers to be aware of the importance of soil health improvement. When the rain falls, soil erosion can be varied depending on soil quality. For example, if the soil quality is good, the tight adhesion of soil particles will help slow down soil erosion.

Soil is an extremely important factor for growth and productivity of not only coffee plants but others. It is one of the main topics of the Regenerative Agriculture training curriculum. Coffee++ Thailand project planned to conduct trainings for coffee farmers in the two pilot provinces and nearby provinces during 2024-2025. The project team also prepared a questionnaire and conducted a pre-training survey on Regenerative Agriculture Practices that farmers already implemented and other topics that are of farmers’ interest and further support needed.

Activities at the Coffee Buying Stations

Regenerative Agriculture is a holistic approach to sustainable farming that focuses on preserving and restoring farmland and ecosystems which provides benefits to farmers, society, and the environment. The approach aims to improve soil fertility and nutrients. At the same time, it helps fix carbon and various forms of biomass in the soil, which helps to reduce the amount of carbon in the atmosphere and greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, production systems are more resilient to environmental impacts, pests, diseases and hazardous chemicals while increasing capacity among farmers to adapt agriculture land use to climate change, reducing farmers’ risk from economic and environmental impacts, such as market price fluctuation, and increasing in prices of agricultural inputs which is beneficial to the livelihood of farmers in the long run.