What does it mean to be a woman coffee farmer today? Coffee Conversations with FATIMA – A Lifetime in the Coffee Garden

IN CONVERSATION WITH FATIMA

In our second conversation, we meet Fatima, a coffee farmer from Wih Nareh who has been farming for decades, continuing the coffee garden once managed by her parents.

She shares what coffee farming means to her, the challenges of balancing work in the garden with responsibilities at home, and the importance of resilience, family support and continued learning for women farmers.

How did you get started in coffee farming?

I am a coffee farmer from Wih Nareh who has been doing this work for decades, continuing the garden previously managed by my parents. Since I was young, I was already accustomed to being in the garden, so the process of becoming the primary person in charge happened naturally.

For me, farming coffee is not merely a job — it is an inseparable part of daily life. It is from this garden that the family's needs are met and life continues.

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

As a woman, I carry a dual role between work in the garden and responsibilities at home. Activities in the garden take place almost every day, with the main task being picking coffee cherries manually, one by one.

This work demands physical endurance, especially since it is carried out in all weather conditions. After activities in the garden, I still have to continue with domestic work, leaving limited time for rest.

Despite this, I continue to carry out this routine as part of my ingrained responsibilities.

What are the biggest challenges in coffee farming?

The main challenge I face relates to the uncertainty of results. Fluctuating coffee prices often do not correspond to the effort that has been put in from planting through to harvest.

In addition, limited labor is also an obstacle, especially during harvest season. In many situations, the work must be completed independently or with the help of family.

As a woman farmer, limited physical strength is a challenge in itself. However, I emphasize that precision in work — especially when picking coffee cherries — is an advantage I possess.

How do women farmers support each other?

In my daily life, I do not work entirely alone. There is interaction with fellow farmers, particularly women, who share experiences and information about plant conditions and care practices.

Support also comes from family, who play a role in helping with work in the garden as well as providing moral encouragement.

Although modest in form, this support plays an important role in sustaining the continuity of farming activities.

What improvements would help women farmers thrive further?

I express a need for tools that can lighten the work in the garden, given that most processes are still carried out manually.

In addition, access to training is important for improving understanding of better coffee cultivation practices, so that results obtained can be more optimal.

My hopes are not excessive — more focused on how work can be carried out more easily and the results obtained can be more stable.

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

Along with my involvement in the cooperative and Fairtrade program, I have felt changes in how I manage my garden.

I have begun to understand more structured and standardized cultivation practices. In addition, there has been an improvement in price certainty and access to information.

These changes have not entirely eliminated the existing challenges, but they have provided a clearer direction in running the farming business.