summary of survey results on coffee leaf rust (la roya)

GMCR Supply Chain Outreach Roya Survey Results Summary

Roya_Survey Results Summary 1 of 10 3/14/2013

A. Background A twenty-four question survey about the impacts of the Coffee Leaf Rust fungus, or “la roya,” was developed in Spanish by the Supply Chain Outreach team in the web-based Survey Monkey tool: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BFDLNXK The survey was sent out to three GMCR distribution lists: (1) the Supply Chain Outreach team sent the survey to key contacts of social projects in coffee-growing communities (principally coops and NGOs) and (2) the Coffee Department sent the Spanish survey to key contacts of their suppliers (principally coops and importers), and (3) the Coffee Department sent a condensed, English version to importers. The Spanish version of the survey was sent on Monday, February 8, 2013 and there were 96 responses as of February 28, 2013. There were 15 responses to the English version of the survey. Each question below indicates if the responses represent the complete set of responses (111) or a subset of responses that were in Spanish (96). B. Results Summary 1. Organization Type

Organization where you work (out of 111 responses)

Count Organization Type

64 Cooperative

14 NGO

11 blank

19 Other Supply Chain Partner (SCP)

3 Finca or large estate

Survey details contain names of responding organizations 2. Name

Survey details contain names of responders 3. Location

Country/ Region/ Community where you work (out of 111 responses)

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BFDLNXK



Survey details contain names of specific regions and communities 4. Roya Evidence

Question: Have you seen directly or heard from coffee producers about the effect la roya has had on the coffee harvest? (out of 111 responses)

5. Certified Organic Percentage

Question: What is the percentage of Certified Organic producers do you work with? (out of 111 responses)

6. Organic vs. Non-Organic Impact

Question: What differences have you noted of the impact la roya has had on organic versus non-organic producers? (out of 111 responses)

Count Country

22 Peru

16 Nicaragua

14 Colombia

14 Guatemala

14 Honduras

7 Costa Rica

7 Mexico

5 Latin America

3 blank

3 El Salvador

3 Global

2 USA

1 Brazil

Count Answer

86 Yes

6 Some

3 No

15 Blank

1 Unknown

Count Answer

37 blank

17 100% Organic

19 75% Organic

5 50% Organic

10 25% Organic

18 10% Organic

5 0% Organic



Mentions Theme

26 No significant difference

17 Unknown

15 More impact on organic farms

12 Impact dependent on farm management, not certification

9 Less impact on organic farms

7 Differences appear with options to combat roya

5 Altitude, variety, soil made the difference

7. Financial Impact Question: As a result of la roya, what financial impacts you have seen? (Out of 96 responses)

Mentions Theme (Financial Impacts)

27 Lost income

15 Debt, loan, contract defaults (for producer and coop)

13 Lack of income to survive, therefore, not reinvesting in coffee or coop maintenance

9 Unclear impacts at present

5 Less regularly planned expansion/renovation, planting new varieties, more chemical use, lower quality from roya tolerant varieties

4 Unemployment

4 No impact at present

1 Hurt national economy

Mentions Theme (triggers of Financial Impacts)

8 Lost yield

6 Low prices

1 Lack of access to financing

8. Current Year Losses

Question: Percent of coffee that has been lost THIS year as a result of roya. (out of 111 responses)

Count Answer

3 5% Loss

23 10% Loss

3 15% Loss

31 25% Loss

3 35% Loss

16 50% Loss

3 75% Loss

29 blank



9. Next Year Losses

Question: Percent of coffee that will be lost NEXT year as a result of roya. (out of 111 responses)

Count Answer

13 10% Loss

32 25% Loss

5 35% Loss

26 50% Loss

8 75% Loss

1 unknown

26 blank

10. Lost Income

Question: Lost income as a result of la roya (out of 111 responses)

Mentions Response

16 Can't estimate

52 Estimate of lost income provided*

2 blank

* Survey details contain specific responses to this question. Free responses could not be aggregated because they were listed as a percentage of lost income or an estimate of the amount of dollars lost, and ranged from a per farmer estimate to an estimate on national or global losses.

11. Coffee Harvest affected by the roya

Question: Percent of coffee harvest affected by the roya. (out of 96 responses)

Count Answer

13 10% Affected

32 25% Affected

19 50% Affected

5 75% Affected

1 100% Affected

26 blank

12. Actions (current)

Question: Please list the actions used to combat la roya. (out of 111 responses)

Mentions Theme

31 Coffee Plant Renovations/ Technical Agronomy Trainings

28 Use of fungicides or chemicals



21 Switching to organic crops/reinforcement of shade grown coffee or preventative tactics

19 Switching to new resistant coffee strains

12 Pruning/ eliminating crops

4 No Action Taken (Diagnostics only)

1 National advocacy/action

1 Abandon farm

13. Impact on Yields Next Year

Question: What do you believe will be the impact on coffee yields next year as a result of roya? (out of 111 responses)

Count Answer

18 High impact on yields (no percentage given)

18 25%-50% yield decrease

13 50% yield decrease

11 Low impact because renovation program already in place

11 10%-25% yield decrease

5 5% or less yield decrease

5 Not known

2 75% yield decrease

28 blank

14. Local Support

Question: Please list available local support to combat la roya epidemic (out of 96 responses)

Mentions Theme

29 Technical assistance offered/ Prevention trainings

26 No assistance available

15 Government /Cooperatives assistance - Supplies, chemicals, etc.

9 Government /Cooperative assistance - Funds

3 Support Available ONLY if conditions are met (changing coffee variety)

15. Credit Available

Question: What credit is available, if any, at this time? (out of 96 responses)

Mentions Theme

24 No credit available

23 Credit available through bank

16 Credit through government available or through private entities

10 Credit available but interest is too high/requires land rights/requires some type of equity from farmer

6 Short term credit available only or must change coffee variety to obtain it

5 Credit through cooperative available



16. Household Impacts

Question: As a result of roya, what are the impacts you have seen on the home level? (out of 96 responses)

Mentions Theme

22 Less coffee, less income

13 Worry, discouragement, concern, fear, uncertainty

10 Won't know until after the harvest

9 Food insecurity

7 Migration and immigration

6 Debt

5 Lack of education

3 Taking kids out of school

3 Lower quality coffee

2 Lack of healthcare

2 Malnutrition

17. Household Income Impact

Question: What is the impact roya has had on household income? (out of 111 responses)

Mentions Theme

39 Less, lower income

10 Less money for basic needs (food, clothing, education, and home improvements)

17 Harvest not over, don't know, don't know yet, haven't seen stats

4 Debt, difficulty paying back debt

2 Migration / immigration

3 Too dependent on coffee

2 Not spending, lower spending

1 Farm abandonment

1 Looking for other income streams

2 blank

18. Diet Changes

Question: What changes have you seen in families’ abilities to get food and maintain their daily diet? (out of 111 responses)

Mentions Themes

18 Harvest isn’t over yet, don't know yet, no stats yet

10 Food diversification

5 Less food and lower quality

5 Off farm work

4 Expanding food plots

3 Food rationing

2 Growing more in pots / patios



3 Reducing purchases of basic necesities

3 Less money

2 Food security projects

1 Increased prices in basic foods

1 Debt / borrow money

1 Thin months will be harder longer

6 blank

19. Household Strategies

Question: What strategies have you seen families employ as a result of the negative effects of la roya? (out of 111 responses)

Mentions Themes

22 Farm management techniques to prevent/combat roya (nurseries, plant other varieties of coffee, renovate)

20 Crop diversification or livestock production for income & consumption

19 Migrate, seek other work

10 Obtain income (sell land, collaborative groups, obtain credit, non-profit support)

9 Unknown, too soon to tell

7 Cut back on expenses, invest less in farm, pull kids from school to work on farm

5 None

3 Go into debt, increase crime

1 Abandon Farm

5 Blank

20. Other Income Sources

Question: What percentage of families has additional income resources besides coffee to compensate for the economic impact of la roya? (out of 111 responses)

Mentions Themes

40 10%-30% have other sources of income

17 Farmers have no other source of income

9 30%-50% have other sources of income

5 Other additional sources such as beans, bananas, etc.

4 Other sources of income available, but still effect felt at household level

3 50%+ have other sources of income

3 Blank

21. Organizational Strategies

Question: What initiatives has your organization taken to combat the effects of la roya, if any? If yes, what initiatives have been taken? (out of 111 responses)



Mentions Themes

37 Technical support provided/and or supplies provided

20 Financial help provided (FLO, loans, credit)

12 Renovation Supports/and or income diversification support

12 Diagnostics or and/Collaboration with other sectors, entities, government or industry

10 No initiative/strategy taken

3 Blank

22. Short and Long term Solutions

Question: Can you list some short and long term solutions and initiatives to fight roya? (out of 96 responses)

Mentions Themes

37 Renovation, use rust resistant varieties

28 Better soil nutrition, compost, good agricultural practices, technical assistance

16 Spray, fumigate, fertilize, prune

12 Education, training, communication and outreach

12 Help with financing, credits

5 Manage shade

4 Diversify, food security, gardens,

23. Industry Strategies

Question: What are some initiatives you think that the coffee industry could implement to combat la roya? (out of 111 responses)

Mentions Themes

28 Financing/program for renovation, low interest financing/loans, access to credit, soft credit/provision of inputs

27 Technical assistance, experiential exchanges, training, education, improved technology, climate change plan, diversification

12 Plant/research new varieties

11 Research, monitoring, working group, consumer education

10 Just prices for producers, prices set by producers, stable prices, direct trade, better differentials

4 Price, quality-based, ecological/sustainable production incentives

4 Grant funds, emergency fund, insurance for loss from disease or natural disaster

1 Too soon to know



24. Other Comments Question: Do you have any other comments that you would like to share about the impact that roya has or will have on the future of coffee producers? (out of 111 responses)

Mentions Themes

16 Reduced income, need to diversify income, food insecurity, vulnerability, poverty, increased local cost of goods

14 Country/industry support needed

10 Low production/yield, low market price, high production costs

10 Plant resistant varieties, lower quality, lack of diversity due to planting resistant varieties

10 Aging plants, poor management and plant care, renovation needed, technical assistance needed

7 Climate Change

7 More info needed to accurately assess situation

1 Migration/leave coffee/illicit crops

1 Any action taken is dependent on producer/coop budget

1 Will see changes in “C” as result of la roya

C. Word Clouds Using the free-response responses of the survey, we created the word cloud below in Spanish. We also created one in English using text from rough translations of responses from several questions, but it is less representative of the true survey responses. 1. Spanish Word Cloud (based on participant responses)



2. English Word Cloud (based on rough translations of some questions)