Objective:

To evaluate, through the Sustainable Livelihoods approach, the capitals of coffee growers to face the productive crisis caused by rust, and to identify the changes in the coffee plantations, based on the strategies implemented by the producers of two communities of the Soconusco region in Chiapas.

Methodology:

Quantitative methods such as survey, multivariate, contingency and association analysis were used.

Results:

It was found that the capitals are insufficient to reduce the damage of the pest and that the main strategy of the producers has been the renovation of coffee plantations with improved varieties, which threatens the biodiversity of the region and the environmental services that coffee plantations provide.

Limitations:

As it is a study carried out only in two ejidos of Soconusco, its representativeness could be considered with certain limitation.

Conclusions:

Increase the infrastructure, the skills of coffee growers and their social organization to overcome crises that threaten the continuity of coffee growing as a sustainable livelihood.