Empowering Youth in Coffee India: Fairtrade NAPP and Central Coffee Research Institute Hold Training for Coffee Farmers in Idukki on Climate Change and Low-Carbon Coffee Farming
An Initiative under the 'Empowering Youth in Coffee Production in India' Project funded by Fairtrade Austria and Julius Meinl Thirty-one coffee farmers from two Fairtrade certified producer organizations in Idukki, Kerala, met scientists from the Central Coffee Research Institute on 20 August 2026 to discuss climate change, carbon footprint and coffee farming practices.
Can a Coffee Farm Store More Carbon Than It Releases?
That question was on the table in Kattappana, Idukki, on 20 August 2026.
Thirty-one coffee farmers from Manarcadu Social Service Society and Sahyadri Organic Small Farmers Consortium spent the day with scientists from the Central Coffee Research Institute (CCRI). Fairtrade NAPP organized the training in partnership with CCRI.
The training was implemented as part of the Empowering Youth in Coffee Production in India project that aims to build the skills of youth, women and smallholder farmers in sustainable coffee farming. Five of the participants were aged 18 to 24.
The focus was practical: what a changing climate means for coffee, and what farmers can do on their own land.
Telling Weather from Climate
One difficult season is weather. A pattern that shifts over many years is climate.
Dr. Chethan J, Research Assistant at CCRI, opened with this distinction. He then took farmers through recent climatic changes at global and national levels, using current facts and data.
Farmers linked these changes to what matters most on a coffee farm:
- Yield
- Coffee quality
- Pest incidence
Participants asked questions throughout and clarified their doubts. Knowing the difference can support farmers to plan for long-term change, not only for the season ahead.
Where Indian Coffee Stands
Dr. Rudragouda, Head of the Agronomy Division at CCRI, compared the global coffee sector with India's.
He highlighted what makes Indian coffee production distinct and the sustainable cultivation practices in use. He also set out the challenges that climate change poses to coffee farming.
For farmers, this placed their own farms in a wider picture. Growing coffee under shade trees, a feature of Indian coffee farming, has a clear place in the climate discussion.
Measuring a Farm's Carbon Footprint
Two sessions looked at research on Indian coffee estates as net carbon sinks under agroforestry. In simple terms, a farm with trees and healthy soil may absorb more carbon than it emits.
Dr. Rudragouda explained how this is measured. The sessions covered:
- Sources of greenhouse gas emissions on a coffee farm
- Shade management
- Soil and growth parameters
- Carbon stored in trees and biomass
- How a net carbon footprint is worked out
Farmers discussed what the findings mean in practice for their own farms. Dr. Sreejith from the Coffee Board office at Vazhavara, Idukki, translated through the day, which kept the discussion open to everyone.
"
"The entire session was very useful for farmers to learn the basic procedures for soil testing, carbon neutralization, biodiversity, fertilizer use and other needs for good production, thereby increasing our income. The training also covered the importance of nature planning and soil protection. We look forward to more training classes to improve our knowledge."
- Roy Mathew, Sahyadri Organic Small Farmers Consortium, India
What the Assessments Showed
Farmers completed an assessment before and after the training. The comparison showed a clear improvement in their understanding of climate change, carbon footprint and sustainable coffee production.
Feedback pointed to three things that worked well:
- Practical examples
- Clear scientific explanations
- Time for discussion
Participants also reported more confidence in adopting climate-resilient and sustainable coffee farming practices.
"
"The training was very useful in understanding Fairtrade NAPP's work, particularly the importance of producer development and support. The sessions provided valuable insights into sustainable agricultural practices and the benefits available to producers. I found the discussions practical and informative, and believe the knowledge gained will be useful in improving our farming practices and strengthening producer organizations."
- Santhosh James, Manarcadu Social Service Society, India
Looking Ahead
Adapting coffee farming to a changing climate is a long journey. One training day is a single step on it.
The knowledge now sits with 31 farmers, who can share it within their two organizations. As Roy Mathew noted, farmers are looking forward to more training.
Fairtrade NAPP continues to work alongside coffee farmers and CCRI under the Empowering Youth in Coffee Production in India project.
