Socioeconomics of Agroforestry for Coffee Production

Social and political factors that influence choice of resource production systems include international balance of trade, food sovereignty, employment opportunities, capital availability, environmental concerns, return on investment, and government subsidies, regulations, and taxes. Choices are also influenced by projected price for the product and the input costs of production, but such forecasts are unreliable tools on which to base a decision because of unpredictable fluctuations in supply and demand. Energy inputs and outputs yield a more reliable prediction of which system will be most effective in producing the desired sociopolitical results, because energy costs and yields are independent of such fluctuations. A case study of coffee production systems showed that when a positive international balance of trade is an objective, and when coffee prices are high and costs of production are low, sun coffee is the system of choice. When the environment and food sovereignty are a concern, and when costs of production are high, agroforestry for coffee is the most effective approach, especially when combined with organic production. When little or no capital is available for development, traditional (rustic) coffee is the alternative.