What does it mean to be a woman coffee farmer today? Coffee Conversations with Ermawati – From Teaching to Growing Coffee

IN CONVERSATION WITH ERMAWATI

In our fourth and final conversation, we meet Ermawati, who began farming coffee in 2018, continuing a family coffee garden after previously working as a teacher.

She shares what drew her to coffee farming, what makes being a woman farmer a source of pride, and the realities of managing a coffee garden through changing weather, labour shortages and fluctuating prices.

How did you get started in coffee farming?

I started farming coffee in 2018, continuing the garden business that had previously been managed by my family. Since childhood I was already used to seeing the farming process, so when I continued it, it felt closer and familiar. I chose to farm coffee because there is a particular satisfaction in it,  from tending the plants to seeing the harvest results. Previously I worked as a teacher, but I felt I needed additional income, so I decided to farm coffee, which also gives more room to grow while helping the family's finances.

As 2026 marks the International Year of the Women Farmer, what does being a woman in agriculture mean today?

Being a woman farmer is, for me, a source of pride. Not everyone can go through the long process of nurturing plants until they bear fruit. The most rewarding thing is seeing the coffee plants grow healthy, green, and heavily laden with fruit, it feels like patience and hard work being paid off.

The hardest challenges usually arise during harvest season, especially when there is a shortage of labour. On top of that, unpredictable weather conditions, such as heavy rainfall and sometimes unstable coffee prices often become burdens of their own.

What are the biggest challenges in coffee farming?

The biggest difficulties I face in coffee farming are mostly related to prices and labour. When coffee prices drop, the returns are not proportional to the effort already put in. On the other hand, finding labour during harvest is also quite difficult, especially at peak season.

Compared to male farmers, there are certainly differences. In terms of physical strength, women have limitations, but we are usually more careful and patient in tending the plants. In practice, however, the biggest challenges I most often face remain low prices and limited labour.

How do women farmers support each other?

Fellow women farmers usually share stories and experiences with one another, especially regarding problems in the garden such as coffee plant diseases or better care methods. Discussions like this are very helpful because we can learn from each other's experiences.

When I face difficulties, the ones who help the most are usually my family, especially my husband. Family support is very important, both in terms of physical help and encouragement.

What improvements would help women farmers thrive further?

For women farmers to be able to progress further, what is most needed is farming equipment and machinery that is women-friendly, so that work in the garden can be lighter and more efficient.

In addition, training is also very important , specifically training in good and proper coffee cultivation techniques. With the right knowledge, farmers can tend their plants more effectively so that harvest results can improve, both in quality and quantity.

What do you value most about being part of the Fairtrade system?

Joining the cooperative and the Fairtrade program has brought many benefits for me. Not only economically, but also in terms of knowledge and better farming practices.

What I feel most is the presence of standards and guidance that have made the cultivation process more organized. I have also attended cooperative meetings and activities, which has helped me better understand how the system works.

Since joining, many changes have been felt, particularly in garden management, which has become neater, more directed, and in line with recommended practices.