The National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia, or Fedecafe, isn't giving a firm forecast for next year's crop, saying estimates are hard to make given the large amount of rain that came down this winter.

WSJ: Trouble Brews in Colombia

That said, Northern Ireland, with its dependence on subsidies, would envy the oil, coal, emeralds, gold and coffee that have put Colombia at the forefront of South America's recent economic surge.

BBC: Can Northern Ireland act as a template for Colombia?

The fungus has ruined what was supposed to be a good year for Colombia, the world's second-largest producer of high-quality arabica coffee, the mild-flavored, hand-picked beans for which coffee traders usually pay a premium.

WSJ: Trouble Brews in Colombia