Why are there abandoned coffee plantations?

Disease and pests: In the late 1800s, the coffee leaf rust disease devastated coffee plantations in the Americas, causing widespread abandonment of coffee farms. Additionally, pests like the coffee berry borer and the white coffee borer have posed significant challenges to coffee production, leading to the abandonment of some plantations.

Weather: Adverse weather conditions, including hurricanes, droughts, and floods, have caused significant damage to coffee plantations, resulting in abandonment in severely affected areas.

Economic Factors: Fluctuations in coffee prices, shifts in market demand, and increasing production costs can lead to financial difficulties for coffee farmers. When the cost of production exceeds the profits, farmers are left with no choice but to abandon their plantations.

Political instability and conflicts: Coffee plantations in regions affected by political instability or conflict may be abandoned due to disruption in farming activities, displacement of farmers, and lack of security.

Aging Farming Population: In some areas, the aging farming population and a lack of young people willing to take over family coffee farms have led to the abandonment of plantations.

Land conversion: As populations grow and urban areas expand, land previously dedicated to coffee cultivation may be converted for other uses, such as housing or commercial developments, resulting in the abandonment of coffee plantations.