Organic Coffee Joni Valkila Summary

Joni Valkila is the author of this article, which was published in 2009 during his time spent at the University of Helsinki in Finland. The research he conducted was over a span of seven months in Nicaragua. The main concept of the study was focused on some of the issues surrounding fair trade organic coffee production. His goal was to determine if the production of organic coffee was functioning efficiently and if in fact it was able to increase the quality of life for the farmers. The research targeted such factors as the overall costs involved, materials used to fertilize the coffee plants, pricing of the coffee, and some of the working conditions for the workers. In order to compile this information, he consulted with farmers, workers within the cooperatives, and several other organizations.

Valkila finds that even to begin farming organically the farmers must receive assistance from the cooperatives or a development organization. The assistance is crucial as it provides the necessary funding and the …show more content…
Also these ideal amounts of organic fertilizers are needed in greater quantities, which he notes can only succeed if the farmers have proper access to them. He explains that the price of organic coffee can fluctuate with the market but he finds the average price is in line with conventionally produced coffee. He adds that the premiums from being certified offered extra monetary assistance to the farmers and coops. However any attempt for the farmers to expand their production size would not be possible on the premiums alone, thus leaving the farmers in a very difficult situation. Which ultimately leads to a situation of paucity for not only the full-time farmers and their families but also the seasonal labor. He finds these workers are barely paid minimum wage and yet the work is more laborious vs. conventional