The Colombian Women Taking On The Coffee Patriarchy – CoffeeTalk

The coffee industry in the Huila region of southwestern Colombia is undergoing significant changes as women begin to challenge the long-standing patriarchal structures that have historically dominated the sector. Despite increasing representation, with women constituting nearly a third of the 525,000 registered coffee farmers, they still face considerable obstacles in leadership and resource access. Many women are now running their own farms, forming cooperatives, and even establishing boutique coffee brands amid rising global coffee prices, driven by a combination of tariffs on Brazilian coffee and a global decrease in harvest yields.

Colombia’s production levels have surged, achieving a 14% increase in the past year, hitting almost 15 million sacks— the highest since 1992. While this boom presents opportunities, gender barriers continue to hinder women’s full participation. Although two women now lead regional committees within the influential coffee growers federation, the actual decision-making power among women remains limited. This disparity is evident as women, like Nery Muñoz, juggle agricultural responsibilities with household duties, often highlighting the challenges faced by female farmers who are expected to perform both roles.

Women’s efforts to establish cooperatives, such as Asoproca, reveal both ambitions and setbacks, such as the struggle to gain technical knowledge necessary for progress. Persistent cultural norms further complicate women’s participation; societal expectations often discourage them from prioritizing coffee-related activities over traditional domestic roles.

Financial inclusion remains a critical issue, with only 17-20% access to formal credit in rural areas, despite women having demonstrated lower loan delinquency rates. Even when applications are made, biases among loan officers often result in women being unfairly assessed and denied credit based on their informal roles and lack of property titles.

The success of initiatives like those led by Blanca Elcy Ome of the Association of Entrepreneurial Women of La Reserva is contingent on overcoming financial barriers. Though government support has yielded progress, including an increase in loan sizes for women-led projects, many women still face significant hurdles in scaling their operations, creating a visible inequality in financial risk and reward distribution within the sector.

The ongoing challenges underscore a larger narrative within Colombia’s agricultural landscape, where despite record profits and an increasing global demand for high-quality coffee, the women laboring in the fields are still striving for equity and recognition in the industry. With the right support and resources, they hope to secure a fair share of the industry’s lucrative opportunities and enhance their visibility and role in the coffee market. The need for greater systemic support to bridge these gaps remains urgent as the industry continues to evolve.

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