Colombia hikes coffee subsidies in bid to end strike

Colombia's government raised a subsidy to coffee farmers and called for them to end a strike, but farm leaders said they will continue protesting and blocking roads because they want buyers to pay a minimum price for beans.

Coffee growers in Colombia, the world's top producer of high-quality arabica beans, are demanding more help from the government after being hit by years of poor weather, crop disease and a strong currency.

They have been blocking key highways and secondary roads since Monday, especially in the coffee producing provinces of Huila and Cauca.


Source: Reuters