Coffee development is not sustainable, finding smart farming solutions for farmers

Dak Lak farmers harvest coffee – Photo: THE THE

Effective and high-value coffee cultivation solutions were presented and discussed at the conference to review the smart coffee cultivation program adapting to climate change for the 2023-2024 crop year.

The conference was organized by Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint Stock Company in coordination with the National Agricultural Extension Center and the Central Highlands Agricultural and Forestry Science and Technology Institute in Buon Ma Thuot City on the afternoon of December 13.

Finding smart coffee farming solutions for farmers

Mr. Ngo Van Dong - General Director of Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint Stock Company - said that coffee is the second most important agricultural export product after rice and in 2024, the export turnover is expected to reach 5.5 billion USD.

However, coffee development is not sustainable, fertilizer investment still accounts for a high proportion of costs and changes when the market fluctuates.

Coffee prices increase, people increase fertilizer, prices decrease, fertilizer decreases, not following the instructions of agricultural extension and scientists, gardening is unsustainable, pests and diseases.

In particular, soil-borne diseases have increased dramatically, causing unstable coffee productivity and quality, and increasing the area that needs to be replanted.

A recent common phenomenon is the intercropping of coffee with other crops, especially fruit trees such as durian, avocado and industrial trees such as rubber, pepper, etc., but there is no suitable cultivation process for the intercropping system.

According to Mr. Dong, due to the increasingly harsh climate, the unit, along with many scientists and local agricultural managers, has organized research to find "smart farming" solutions to combat climate change.

Mr. Ngo Van Dong - General Director of Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint Stock Company - talked about the goal of implementing a smart coffee cultivation program to combat climate change - Photo: THE THE

The program aims to develop a smart coffee cultivation process that adapts to climate change and is applicable to the Central Highlands. This will help farmers reduce costs, increase productivity, quality and economic efficiency in cultivation, towards sustainable coffee development and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

The program is accompanied by the National Agricultural Extension Center, the Central Highlands Agricultural and Forestry Science and Technology Institute, and the agricultural extension centers of 5 Central Highlands provinces, along with many experts in the company's scientific and technical council.

Deploying 15 models in 5 Central Highlands provinces

Also according to Mr. Dong, with the above goal, in the 2024-2025 crop year, the program will be implemented in 5 Central Highlands provinces: Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Lam Dong, Gia Lai and Kon Tum.

With a scientific and practical approach, the program collected 200 soil samples to analyze over 2,300 agrochemical indicators, and conducted surveys on over 500 coffee-producing households to assess the current state of soil health...

From the research, agricultural scientists deployed 15 models in 5 provinces of the Central Highlands using new fertilizer products of Binh Dien such as: soil improvement fertilizer, fertilizer with added microorganisms...

According to preliminary evaluation results, the models achieved quite good results, productivity and economic efficiency of durian production increased. With coffee and pepper, although not yet harvested, the quality of the garden has improved, and productivity and efficiency are forecasted to also increase...

Mr. Nguyen Van Bo – former director of the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences – talks about the benefits of smart farming models – Photo: THE THE

Speaking more about this, Mr. Nguyen Van Bo - former director of the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences - said that the 2024 research process is a step to create momentum for 2025 to conduct in-depth research on smart coffee cultivation methods to adapt to climate change. Helping farmers have a standard process on how to care for coffee trees to achieve the highest efficiency.

“People’s coffee tree care is still based on personal experience (no process) and local farming practices, so it is ineffective. In addition, many intercropping models are not designed from the beginning, affecting the growth and development of the trees. Farmers must understand and grasp the need to apply fertilizer in a balanced and reasonable way, at the right time, in the right dosage and ratio to achieve high efficiency,” the Minister informed.

Dak Lak accounts for 30% of the country's coffee output.

According to the Department of Industry and Trade of Dak Lak province, the province currently has an area of ​​210,000 hectares, annually harvesting more than 520,000 tons of coffee, accounting for more than 30% of the country's coffee output.

Dak Lak coffee has been exported to more than 100 countries worldwide. In 2023, Dak Lak's total export turnover reached 1.586 billion USD, of which coffee alone reached more than 819 million USD, accounting for more than 50% of the province's export turnover.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/phat-trien-ca-phe-chua-ben-vung-tim-giai-phap-canh-tac-thong-minh-cho-nong-dan-20241213174004755.htm