Coffee farmers from Grandes Rios, in Vale do Ivaí, learn to classify and taste the drink to identify defects, correct production and harvesting processes and, thus, improve the quality of the product. This way, they gain more market share and a better price.
Training is one of the actions offered by the Emater Institute, within a State Government strategy to improve the competitiveness of agricultural production in Paraná. “The government is working to identify potential that can be explored and that ensure more productivity and income for rural people”, says the Secretary of Agriculture and Supply, Norberto Ortigara.
So far, 70 farmers have taken the course. “When the producer knows the defects of the coffee and how much this affects the quality of the drink, he can work better on both the harvest and the preparation of the beans. This will result in a product of better quality and a more interesting price”, explains Nelson Menoli Sobrinho, agronomist at Emater.
According to Menoli, who is an official classifier and taster at the Ministry of Agriculture and teaches the course, the training helps to improve the quality of crops and supply the market with a differentiated product with greater added value. “Farmers start to notice the differences in the quality standards of the beans, the defects in the physical classification of the coffee that will have an effect on the final result of the product”, he explains.
MAIN – Coffee growing is the main agricultural activity in the municipality. There are 350 farming families dedicated to the activity, 95% of which are small producers. The planted area is 1.76 thousand hectares with an average annual production of 57 thousand processed bags. In 2013, the area was 3 thousand hectares with annual productivity of 67 thousand bags. According to data from the Department of Agriculture and Supply, the municipality ranks sixth in coffee area in the State of Paraná.
Agronomist Nelson Menoli Sobrinho says that the technical visits, courses, meetings and events promoted by Emater are essential to double productivity in the municipality's crops and also to help farmers invest in the production of excellent quality coffee. “From 2013 to 2017 there was a decrease in the planted area, but we managed to increase productivity and gain in product price even with the decrease in this area”, he states.
FROM COLLECTION – Producer Rogério Aparecido Pirolo participated in the coffee classification and tasting training. He grows the grain in an area of 25 hectares, with an average annual production of 30 bags per hectare. According to the farmer, since learning how to taste and classify coffee, he has come to know the profile of his product and has already made changes to the production process.
“From the course I learned that to produce a batch of special beans you need to pay attention right from picking, when we remove the coffee from the tree. Even in the very smell of the grain in the yard, its fermentation, you can identify what is happening to the grain. Before, we had no idea what was inferior or superior coffee and today I know how to identify whether the coffee is of good quality or not”, says the producer. “This is a differentiator because now I know the value of my product”, says Pirolo.
COMPETITIONS – Farmers in the region began to achieve good placements in the Paraná Quality Coffee Competition. In the 2012 edition, second place in the Family Farming Micro Lot category; in 2013, third place also in the Micro Lot category; and in 2015, fourth place in the Natural Category.
They also managed to add value to the product, with an average price differential of 16% in the regional market. “This year we are making attempts at direct marketing with exporters, who pay more for a quality difference. There is potential for differentiation worth 20% or more, says Nelson Menoli.
JOINT WORK – Training to identify the quality of the drink is among the set of actions to support coffee growers and boost coffee farming in Grandes Rios. Work is carried out together with producers, which involves the entire production chain, from pest management to plant and soil fertility.
23 years ago, 70-year-old farmer Adão Santo Daré decided to plant coffee and was guided by the Emater team right from the start. It produces an average of 60 to 70 bags per hectare in an area of 4.5 hectares – above the municipality’s average. Today it is a reference in the region. “In addition to increasing productivity, the system recommended by Emater contributes to improving the quality of the coffee harvested”, says the producer.
Source: Agrolink
