Growing Coffee in Bolivia

Bolivia

Bolivia does not have a significant consumer profile for coffee producing, but is increasingly regarded in the speciality coffee industry as the most promising and under-valued origin in the world.

Much of coffee grown in the fertile and mountainous Yungas region, centred on the town of Caranavi. Bolivia has around 20,000 families farming coffee, which makes it relatively small industry. More than 99% of these are small-holder farmers – often coffee is the cash crop on mixed, subsistence farms.

Coca leaf production is a particular problem in Bolivia as it brings in higher financial benefits for poor farmers (Bolivia is now the 3rd largest producer of cocaine in the world).

All of the coffee produced in Bolivia is Arabica (none of the poor quality Robusta) and primarily the “Typica” Arabica, one of the very oldest varietals that was first cultivated in Yemen. Most other origins have replaced the high quality Typica with higher yielding, more disease resistant varietals.

Virtually all coffee production in Bolivia is organic, as farmers do not use fertilizers and pesticides here, which is a very advantageous position for the industry to be in.