Working with farmers to develop sustainable coffee production.

Dak Lak, a province located in the heart of the Central Highlands, proudly boasts the title of "world coffee destination," with over 210,000 hectares of coffee plantations and an annual production of more than 520,000 tons. This achievement is largely due to the significant contributions of the Farmers' Association at all levels throughout the development of coffee cultivation.

According to Ya Toan Ênuôl, Chairman of the Dak Lak Provincial Farmers' Association, the coffee industry in general, and in Dak Lak province in particular, is facing difficulties and challenges such as: the impact of climate change, small-scale production, with only about 10% of the coffee growing area concentrated in specialized farming zones.

Therefore, in recent times, the Provincial Farmers' Association has coordinated with many relevant units to organize training courses and share knowledge on coffee production and replanting, such as: techniques for planting, caring for and controlling pests and diseases, techniques for shaping coffee plants, harvesting, and preservation…

This, in turn, helps farmers produce coffee that meets the increasingly stringent requirements of both domestic and international markets.

The Binh Hoa Organic Agriculture Cooperative (Krong Ana district) is collaborating to develop an organic coffee growing area.

For example, Mr. Y Pho Nie (Ea Ho commune, Krong Nang district) has 1 hectare of land planted with coffee intercropped with durian. Although he has the land for economic development, he only considers it a supplementary source of income, so he doesn't invest in caring for it and mainly works as a hired laborer throughout the province. Despite being very diligent, his family's economic situation remains extremely difficult. Fortunately, in 2019, he and many local households joined a cooperative in the district, allowing them to focus on agricultural development.

Mr. Y Pho received technical support, participated in training courses on planting and caring for coffee trees, and was able to borrow agricultural supplies when needed, using them at the right stages of the coffee tree's development. Thanks to adhering to organic coffee production processes, he earns an additional 5-20 million VND per ton compared to traditional methods. In 2024, he earned over 600 million VND in profit from his family's coffee plantation, contributing to his steadily improving economic situation.

For Vietnamese coffee in general, and Dak Lak coffee in particular, to reach the global market, organizing production to meet technical standards, food safety regulations, ecological standards, and sustainable production requires significant investment in science and technology, certified production, and traceability.

To achieve these goals, farmers must cooperate, produce according to established procedures, and enhance the competitiveness of their agricultural products. One of the associations that has done a good job of fostering this cooperation is the Farmers' Association of Krông Ana district.

Over the years, the Krông Ana District Farmers' Association has established numerous professional associations and cooperatives to bring farmers together for development. A notable example is the Bình Hòa Organic Agriculture Cooperative, established in 2022, with 13 members producing coffee. Besides creating a safe and high-quality coffee supply without the use of pesticides, the members also jointly promote their products and sell directly to roasters to maximize profits.

Thanks to the development of organic coffee farming, some members of the cooperative now earn a considerable additional income from selling other coffee by-products such as coffee flower tea and coffee husk tea.

According to Y Thắng Bdap, Vice Chairman of the Krông Ana District Farmers' Association, in addition to disseminating information and establishing professional associations and groups, the District Farmers' Association also coordinates with relevant agencies to implement regional linkages and register for OCOP and VietGAP certifications for key agricultural products, including coffee, to enhance product value.

Farmers are focusing on developing sustainable coffee production.

According to the Chairman of the Provincial Farmers' Association, Ya Toan Ênuôl, in the coming time, the Provincial Farmers' Association will focus on guiding and supporting the establishment and development of cooperatives and associations for coffee-growing households; organizing diverse and practical activities to attract coffee farmers to participate. At the same time, it will coordinate the organization of many training courses on science, technology, and the formation of production linkage chains… to contribute to the sustainable development of coffee.

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/kinh-te/202503/cung-nong-dan-phat-trien-ca-phe-ben-vung-d180865/