Coffee in Colombia: A turbulent history
As you know, in December we're going to Colombia to visit coffee plantations and discover this pioneering country in the coffee industry. But to better enjoy the upcoming trip, going back in time a little can be very enlightening!
The first steps
The very first introduction of coffee to Colombia is often attributed to the Jesuits in 1723. The Jesuit priests are said to have brought coffee seeds back from Venezuela. Although evidence of coffee cultivation dates back to 1732, again by the Jesuits, commercial coffee farming did not develop until the end of the 18th century.
But it was in the 19th century that coffee began to take off in Colombia, especially after independence was gained from Spain in 1810. Thus, between 1850 and 1880, coffee production is said to have increased by 9900%, going from 1000 bags per year to more than 100,000.
Finally, in 1912, 50% of Colombian exports consisted of coffee, and in 1930 Colombia reached the plateau of 3 million bags exported, thus making it the producer of more than 10% of the world coffee market.
José Gumilla, Jesuit priest
Development and maturity of coffee cultivation in Colombia
From 1910 until the end of World War II , Colombia experienced a boom in coffee cultivation. By the midpoint of this period, it is estimated that coffee farming was involved in nearly a third of the total population, directly or indirectly. It was in 1927 that the FNC, the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia, was created. We will discuss Fedecafé in another blog post, but it is important to know that it actively participated, and continues to participate, in the country's overall development. Unfortunately, although coffee was beneficial to the country, Colombia slowly slipped down the dangerous path of dependence on this economic sector. The Golden Age seemed to end in 1948, when the Civil War broke out.
"Las Chapoleras" by the Rodriguez brothers
From 1950 to the present day, a sector with ups and downs
During this period, the development of coffee cultivation in Colombia experienced constant ups and downs. After being slowed for nearly 30 years until the mid-1970s, growth resumed, largely due to the difficulties faced by its Brazilian competitor. With frost decimating Brazilian harvests, buyers and consumers turned to Colombia, allowing it to regain market share in the global market. Technological advancements also led to improved cultivation methods, and in the 1980s, exports rebounded, tripling revenues compared to the 1970s.
The upturn didn't last, and the crisis returned in 1990. Coffee was now traded on the stock exchange, leading to widespread speculation. Coffee prices plummeted so much that coffee farmers went on strike. This caused Colombia to lose its position as the world's second - largest producer to Vietnam. Finally, since 2008, coffee rust disease has been causing the country's production to plummet. Nevertheless, the impact on the country as a whole has been less severe: coffee is no longer Colombia's flagship product, and the country's well-being is much less dependent on it. What has taken its place? Oil.
Sources
Has Bean Coffee (2015). https://www.hasbean.co.uk/blogs/articles/10073877-colombia
James Hoffmann (2014). The World Atlas of Coffee
By Anónimo (siglo XVIII) — Hernández Caballero, Serafín (Editor). (1998): Gran Enciclopedia de Venezuela. Editorial Globe, CA Caracas. 10 volumes. ISBN 980-6427-00-9 ISBN 980-6427-10-6, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23391355
