Through the JDE Peet’s Farmer Programme, we are working to maintain Kodagu’s unique landscape by optimising farming practices and introducing measures to increase biodiversity.
Coffee farmers in production areas commonly resort to using too much fertiliser, agrochemicals and water in attempts to boost their coffee yields. However, these practices have many negative consequences, from decreasing soil nutrients and increasing soil acidity to worsening water scarcity issues, raising carbon emissions and decreasing underground water levels over time.
Partnering with TaTa, Sucden and ECOM, we have initiated a number of projects to address these issues, including training farmers on Good Agricultural Practices and the principles of regenerative agriculture.
As part of this work, farmers have received training on the correct ratios of chemical fertilisers to water to use in coffee growing. By maintaining the ideal balance of fertilisers, farmers in Kodagu can reduce their costs while protecting and improving soil health, which translates to a higher quality crop of coffee.
Meanwhile, intercropping (the practice of growing two or more crops in proximity to one another) significantly reduces reliance on chemical fertilisers in the first place. By intercropping fruit tree saplings with coffee plants, the farmers in Kodagu naturally increase soil fertility, while also diversifying their income.
