BOGOTA, Colombia – During the second session of the 83rd National Coffee Growers Congress, Hernando Duque, Technical Manager of the Colombian Coffee Growers Federation (FNC), presented new models for assisted coffee harvesting that are currently under evaluation.
Some of these included adapted motorcycles for applying fertilizers, fumigating and planting, and mechanical hands that hasten harvesting.
The devices were tested on the ground by an FNC delegation that travelled to Brazil. The delegates witnessed their potential for reducing the demand for labor and increasing the profitability of Colombian coffee producers.
In addition to these devices, the FNC’s National Coffee Research Center (Cenicafé) developed a derribadora machine, which has already been introduced to coffee growers.
This is the first time that Cenicafé launches a product that is still under development. This bold move attests to its interest in receiving feedback from users before releasing the machine’s final version.
Mr. Duque noted that although assisted harvesting mechanisms tend to collect unripe fruit, equipment that separates ripe from unripe fruit before it reaches the post-harvesting process is already available.
This will guarantee that the high quality that has positioned Colombian coffee in international markets is preserved.
“We’re well aware that the solution is not around the corner. That’s why we refuse to stand by, that’s why we’re moving quickly”, concluded Mr. Duque.
