Topic: The Coffee Harvest in Puerto Rico. Autor: Alexa M.

Zaragoza Torres Date: August 29, 2022

Problem
Problem Background
Background Countermeasures
Countermeasures

 The sowing and production of coffee is the 4th agricultural industry in Puerto Rico. The annual production of coffee in
Puerto Rico is around 80,000 quintals.
 In Puerto Rico, about 240,000 quintals (1 quintal = 100 pounds) of coffee are consumed annually.
 Establish an educational campaign on the benefits of being a coffee picker. The incomes
from agricultural sources are not counted in the eligibility of the government social
programs. This is a benefit for the coffee pickers.

 Other information that should be included in the educational campaign is the updated
 In the last 20 years, the coffee industry had a decrease in the availability of coffee bean collectors on farms in Puerto
payment rates.
Rico, which causes approximately half of the harvest to be damaged on the farms. The lack of coffee pickers increases
the need to import coffee to the island.
 Establish transportation sources by municipality. Each municipality choose and design
the route to the farm. (Both outward and back at the end of the daily task.)
 The period of the harvest are August to December. The months of September, October and November are considered
as the high period of the harvest. More than 70% of the coffee production is harvested in those months.  Create an online platform that has a database available where farmers and coffee pickers
can place their information that the information necessary to facilitate the meeting
 Farm owners face difficulty in identifying coffee pickers and vice
between the farm owner and the pickers.
versa, coffee pickers do not always know the needs of farm owners.

 Current situation: Barely 1,000 coffee pickers between August and Check/Evaluate
December.
 The increase in the quintals of coffee collected is the best indicator of a successful plan.
 Ideal situation: Recruit 4,000 coffee pickers between August and
Other aspects that serve as indicators are the following:
December.

Target Target  The increase in platform users will indicate success in data exchange.

 Decrease in the percentage of unemployment in the agricultural sector is an indicator of

 The objective is to reach the hiring of the closest figure to 4,000 coffee pickers per harvest period. success of planning.

 Decrease in the importation of coffee on the island.

Target
Cause Act/Standardize

 The continuity of the established plan is guaranteed, periodically updating the data of
farm owners and collectors.

 Invite related entities such as the Department of Agriculture and the Department of
Labor to collaborate with the diffusion and use of the platform, thus expanding the
range of individuals reached.

 Finally, it can be recommended to create programs or work plans like this one in other
agricultural areas.