While most of us are thinking about holiday celebrations our farmers in Sumatra, Indonesia have been devastated by a cyclone, monsoon disaster last week. The damage has been catastrophic and still continues in flash floods and landslides. The disaster has caused widespread impact to the population, infrastructure, and agricultural economy, including coffee farms which are the primary livelihood source of the community. Details and the death tolls are still mounting. As part of Cooperative Coffees, we are putting together an aid initiative. There will inevitably be challenges in the coming year with getting Sumatran coffee. So just a heads up that there is a high chance that Sumatran coffee will become limited in the coming months/year.
Cooperative Coffee has 3 emergency relief funds available each fiscal year via a grant that we can vote on to distribute to our farmers in times of need.
Kokowagayo and Sumatra Permata Gayo have both reached out to us asking for assistance with food items such as rice, cooking oil and sugar, medical supplies, and household supplies like clothes and blankets.
There are two phases to emergency relief:
ONE (within the first 14 days of disaster):
1. Food and drinking water2. Medical supplies and health services3. Blankets, clothing, and sleeping necessities4. Logistics for access to isolated villages
TWO (15 days to 12 months post disaster):
1. Rehabilitation of coffee lands2. Livelihood and capital support of farmers3. Restoration of transport access for future harvest logistics
So far they are reporting 35 deaths, 28 missing, 144 injuries, 32,000 displaced, 46,600 completely isolated at Permata Gayo. The funds that we give will go to these needs. We voted unanimously as roaster-Coop-members to give to both organizations in equal amounts. Unfortunately, the weather disaster is ongoing, with heavy rains and flooding to continue for at least the next 2 weeks. As of now the warehouse of stored green coffee is completely gone, so who is to say what will be of green in the future. What matters right now is assisting the wonderful people who make it possible to even have their coffee.
We will continue to keep you as informed as possible as we learn more and what is realistic for our largest volume coffee. Read more here: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g4enlp6kzo .