Drought has severely impacted Brazil's coffee farmers, leading to a surge in global coffee prices. However, some farmers, like Rodrigo Brondani, are optimistic about future harvests thanks to irrigation. This shift is crucial as Brazil is the world's largest coffee producer, and many farms are now adopting irrigation methods to cope with climate change.
• Drought last year caused significant damage, but irrigation is helping some farms thrive.
• Brondani's Joha farm utilizes advanced irrigation, yielding double the average coffee output.
• The demand for coffee is rising, but supply struggles due to climate impacts have driven prices up by nearly 25%.
• Farmers face high costs for irrigation systems, but partnerships are emerging to help with investments.
This situation highlights the urgent need for sustainable water management in agriculture. As climate change continues to affect weather patterns, the reliance on irrigation could reshape coffee farming and influence global coffee prices, ultimately affecting consumers worldwide.
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