Revisiting the “Thin Months ” – A Follow-up Study on the Livelihoods of Mesoamerican Coffee Farmers

• Over a 6-year period, coffee producers experienced less seasonal food shortage, on average (1.3 fewer months per year), but the majority of families still reported food shortages during an average of 3–4 months per year. • Farmers ’ ability to invest in new on-farm enterprises depends greatly on their access to financial support. In general, interest rates remain high everywhere (averaging ≥18 % annually), and a lack of cash income to pay off annual loans leaves many producers in a poverty trap. They either escape debt only temporarily after coffee harvest payouts or carry ever-increasing debt burdens, which threaten both production and family well-being. • Income diversification proved effective for reducing the number of reported “thin months. ” As the number of income sources increased, the thin months tended to decrease. An assessment of livelihood factors showed that social networks, income diversification, and subsistence food production each contribute to farmers’ well-being. Smallholder coffee farmers in Mesoamerica face formidable challenges, including highly variable coffee prices, increasing climate change impacts, and worsening outbreaks of pests and diseases, which contribute to chronic debt and food insecurity. Despite these difficulties, the results of a recent follow-up or longitudinal survey show improvement in key aspects of farmers ’ livelihoods, though there is an urgent need to continue working with farmers on these issues. The findings point to promising strategies for enhancing livelihoods, including carefully selected crop diversification practices to improve food security; site-specific instead of blanket recommendations for improved agricultural management and livelihood diversification; access to affordable financing and training in financial literacy; and other education and training programs for farmers. Making and measuring changes in farmers ’ livelihood