Haiti Coffee Supply Chain Risk Assessment
- Coffee production declined from 42,900 tons in 1980 to 21,000 tons in 2007, with cultivated area decreasing from 85,000 Ha to 43,000 Ha.
- Five supply chains identified: 58% artisanal domestic, 28% informal Dominican Republic trade, 6% export 'café pile', 6% commercial domestic, 2% specialty export.
- Scolyte pest infestation affects 20-50% of production annually, causing 15-20% production losses.
- Coffee provides income for over 100,000 farmers and sustains remaining tree cover (less than 1.5% of land).
- Haiti depends on Dominican Republic for 28% of coffee sales through informal cross-border trade.
This comprehensive risk assessment examines Haiti's coffee industry, which has experienced continuous decline since the 1970s despite being economically and ecologically significant. The coffee sector provides income for over 100,000 farmers and sustains much of the country's remaining tree cover, currently less than 1.5% of land area.
The assessment identifies five dominant supply chains: artisanal coffee for domestic consumption (58% of volume), commercial/industrial for domestic use (6%), 'café pile' for export (6%), informal trade with Dominican Republic (28%), and specialty coffee for export (2%). Coffee production has declined dramatically from 42,900 tons in 1980 to 21,000 tons in 2007, while cultivated area decreased from 85,000 Ha to 43,000 Ha.
Major constraints include the structure of 'creole gardens' contributing to low productivity, insecure land tenure, poor infrastructure, limited credit access, aging trees and farmers, declining government support, and lack of industry coordination. The assessment prioritizes risks including long-term production decline, environmental degradation, pest infestations (especially Scolyte with 20-50% infestation rates), cooperative failures, and dependency on Dominican Republic trade.
The study recommends comprehensive revitalization including plantation regeneration, pest control, supply chain integration, institutional strengthening, and environmental management at local, district, and national levels.
How to cite
World Bank; European Commission, 2010, Haiti Coffee Supply Chain Risk Assessment, accessed via HaitiDocs, https://www.haitidocs.org/doc/wb-2010-haiti-coffee-supply-chain-risk