Coronavirus puts Honduras' coffee harvest in jeopardy

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) — The coronavirus pandemic is threatening Honduras’ coffee harvest by keeping Hondurans who would normally travel for the work at home and preventing foreign harvesters from entering the country, local coffee producers say.

The risk to one of Honduras’ most important crops is just one of the many devastating economic impacts of the pandemic. Mobility restrictions meant to slow the virus’ spread caused widespread job losses in the already struggling country. Two destructive November hurricanes that hit Honduras’ most economically productive region in the north only compounded the problem.

Coffee represents 3% of Honduras’ gross domestic product, according to the Honduran Coffee Institute.

In El Paraiso, one of Honduras’ main producing areas, coffee growers say they need about 70,000 workers for the harvest, but so far this year only have about 40,000. In the region, which borders Nicaragua, the harvest began Dec. 15 and will continue into mid-February.

Coffee grower Fredy Pastrana said that many workers who typically come from the cities have not traveled this year over COVID-19 fears. But the bigger problem has been at the border, where Honduran officials are requiring proof of a negative COVID-19 test before allowing foreigners to enter.

“I’ve spoken with producers in other regions and I believe the problem is nationwide,” Pastrana said.

There is minimal testing in Nicaragua and the $24 cost is out of reach for many of the harvesters. Coffee growers are trying to convince Honduras’ government to set up low-cost testing facilities at border stations to help speed the Nicaraguan workers across the border.

Costa Rica, another important coffee producer, also relies heavily on foreign labor for its harvest. It anticipated...