The Role and Position of Young Coffee Farmers: The Gap between Generations in the Coffee Business

Abstract

The program designed for young coffee farmers is intended to increase the young coffee farmers’ interest to become entrepreneurs. This is based on the increase of the number of female workers that keeps increasing. While middle productive-aged workers (35-54 years old) increase slowly, young productive-aged workers (15-34 years old) decrease. This research was aimed to study the gap between generations in the coffee business, focusing on the role and position of young coffee farmers. The research was carried out in Simalungun Regency in North Sumatera, one of the Arabica coffee producers. This research used a quantitative approach supported by qualitative data from interview and group discussion. The method of the research was survey. The samples were young farmers aged between 20 and 40 years old, and they had been involved in business coffee (as farmers, farming labor, labor in coffee processing, traders, and agricultural supply shops). Samples were collected randomly from 108 respondents. The results of the research showed that there was already equality in access and control carried out by young coffee farmers and their parents. The gap seems to happen as there are a number of female young coffee farmers as well as the females’ mothers that do not have control or benefits over the resources.