Research Article: Madhusudan, M. D. (2005). The Global Village: Linkages between International Coffee Markets and Grazing by Livestock in a South Indian Wildlife Reserve. In Conservation Biology (Vol. 19, Issue 2).

Blog Author: Chandan Kumar Pandey

Key Takeaways: 

  • Traditionally, forest land was used by pastoral communities living around Bandipur National Park (BNP) and Tiger Reserve to graze livestock. 
  • The forest lands were utilized for subsistence farming, as livestock were used locally for transportation, plowing, organic manure or for milk. Further, the dung deposited inside the forest provides nutrients to the soil, facilitating vegetation.
  • However, by the mid-1990  increase in the demand for dung by coffee planters around Bandipur encouraged local communities to harvest and supply dung. Moreover,the subsidies on chemical fertilizer by government agencies further encouraged local farmers to sell the dung. 
  • Study results  estimate that by selling dung to nearby coffee farmers,  local community members can earn an additional income of  INR 5,874 to INR 9,673 (or 36-59% of the average annual smallholder family income from the region).
  • Increased demand for dung  resulted in an unprecedented increase in the annual growth rate of the livestock population. Since livestock depend on the forest for grazing, increasing livestock population limits the foraging of wild herbivores. 
  • The study by Dr. M. D. Madhusudan indicated how a 50% decline in coffee exports by Brazil has led to an increase in livestock population in villages around Bandipur National Park.
  • Such change in land-use by pastoral communities will have negative impacts on forest vegetation and wildlife.

 

The annual global export of coffee is approximately 12 billion USD, ranking second only to crude oil. By the mid-19th century, Brazil became the top producer and exporter of coffee, accounting for 20-30% of trade value. In comparison, India shares 2-3% of the world’s coffee production and exports 70% of its produce. However, coffee is prone to extreme climatic conditions.  In South America, severe frosts in Brazil destroyed coffee crops 31 times in the 20th century. The destruction of crops led to a roughly 50% decline in the global export of Brazilian coffee, therefore providing a new market for Indian coffee. India’s coffee export volume has risen significantly in the same period. 

In 2001, within India, three districts viz. Kodugu, Wayanad and Nilgiris produce 57.2%  of India’s coffee. The decline in export from Brazil created a supply-demand gap in the global coffee market, increasing the profit margin. Utilizing this gap, average coffee export from India increased by 158 %  per year between 1989 and 1998. Moreover, organically produced coffee is more profitable and desirable than coffee that uses chemical fertilizers. Therefore, the demand for dung from cattle also increased during this period. 

A comparative case study published by Dr. M. D. Madhusudan demonstrated the potential link between the increase in dung demand from villages around Bandipur National Park and Tiger reserve (BP, hereafter) and the destruction of crops in Brazil due to frost. In January 2000, the case study was conducted by interviewing people in 79 villages in Hangala, 34 villages in Melkaamanahalli, and 15 in Maguvinahalli villages, respectively. The interview was designed to understand the change in dung export, source and destination of dung, income generated from export, change in cattle number, and general agricultural practice in these villages. To estimate the average amount of dung produced by animals, researchers collected samples of daily dung production from various species and size-age groups. This allowed them to make an estimation of the average dung production for each animal. Furthermore, to estimate dung exports from these villages to coffee planters, trucks carrying dung were counted at the toll gate for two weeks.

To estimate the farm input and output from the coffee farms, Dr. Madhusudan interviewed six coffee growers and collected data from the Coffee Board of India. For quantifying the threat from livestock to the Bandipur  forest, the author used 1997 livestock census data from the Karnataka State government. The trend of cattle population was available at the veterinary center, and reports from neighboring areas. 

Results from the study estimate that on average, the density of livestock in 159 villages around Bandipur in the year 2000 was 236 per square kilometre. Each village exports 16 to 24 tonnes of wet dung, which is around 41-62 % of the total produce. The average extra money earned by the villagers annually ranged between INR 5,874 to 9,673. There was also above national average increment in the livestock population between 1997 to 2000, suggesting the effect of the new market for the dung for the villagers.

The population of wild herbivores in and around Bandipur is three times the livestock population. Cattle depend on the forest for their dietary needs. An earlier study suggested that wild herbivores avoid the areas where the cattle population feeds. Moreover, an increase in the cost value of dung has led to its harvest from the forest. Dung harvesting could further decrease the nutrient value of livestock in the forest. Therefore, the author has suggested a need for the study to understand the impact of dung harvest on soil nutrients in the area where livestock graze. 

The study indicates a decrease in coffee production in Brazil due to several frosting events between 1970 and  1990. The decreased production has reduced the export of coffee in the global market. During the same time period, there was an increase in Indian coffee exports, which led to a higher demand for organic fertilizers at the local level. These demands have further led to an increase in the livestock population. However, protected areas are still the primary source of grazing . Consequently, an increase in the extraction of forest products in the region has resulted in degradation of forest and  wildlife. 

In conclusion, the study highlights the complex linkages between global coffee markets and local ecosystems, and the need for sustainable production practices that take into account the broader ecological impacts of coffee cultivation. The findings also emphasize the importance of promoting alternative livelihoods for local communities as a means of reducing reliance on livestock grazing within protected areas. Overall, the article highlights the need for a more integrated and holistic approach to conservation that takes into account the interconnectedness of global markets and local ecosystems.

 

Key words: Coffee, Cattle, Livestock, Grazing, Nutrient deposition, Bandipur National Park, global market, subsistence, commercial, forest produce, dung, livestock-wildlife interaction. 

You can access the original article here.