Poor Farmer

By: Tebabu Assefa and Tamiru Degefa Global Coffee Market and Coffee Crisis Coffee is one of the most highly traded commodities in the world, second only to oil. The trade of coffee generates $80 billion every year in the global market, and that amount is growing. In 2001, coffee prices on the global market hit a 30-year low, and a humanitarian crisis ensued for the 25 million coffee farmers and families around the world, including many in Ethiopia. The fall in revenue has affected the income small farmers earned for the 'fruit of their labor" As a result, the farmers are unable to send their children to school and could not afford to pay for their basic needs. However, from the retail sides demand for coffee has risen and the coffee industry has shown remarkable profit. For example, Starbucks, an 8 billion dollar a year company, was able to sell Ethiopian Harar coffee for $26.00 per pound, whereas the farmer only received between $0.60 and $1.10 per pound and only 3 cents goes...

Part II of the transcript taken during the UK Members of Parliament questioning of Starbucks and others. Part I, " Parliament Grilled Starbucks over Ethiopia's Trademark Issue " was posted here . Part III is coming up ----------------------- UNCORRECTED TRANSCRIPT OF ORAL EVIDENCE To be published as HC 356-i House of COMMONS MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE FAIR TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT Tuesday 27 February 2007 MS SANDRA TAYLOR, MR CLIFF BURROWS and MR MIKE BARRY Evidence heard in Public Questions 1 - 82 Oral Evidence Taken before the International Development Committee on Tuesday 27 February 2007 Members present Malcolm Bruce, in the Chair John Barrett John Battle John Bercow Richard Burden James Duddridge Ann McKechin Joan Ruddock Mr Marsha Singh Examination of Witnesses Witnesses: Ms Sandra Taylor, Senior Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility, Starbucks Coffee Company, Mr Cliff Burrows, Senior Vice President and President of ...