Sustainable coffee production - from practical persuasion

(CDC) - The pros Vietnam productivity, quality and price mechanisms especially in the context of unstable price, area coffee growing aging has increasingly asserted: sustainable coffee production is the inevitable destination in the production of the coffee industry ...

After many years of business and being "exploited" too much coffee area in the province are old. In total over 500 thousand hectares of coffee today, coffee area yields below 1.5 ton / ha accounted for 25 % and still continue to increase in the coming years due to aging coffee plantations increased from 20% (present) to about 40 % by 2020. There are several causes leading to "aging" of some quick coffee area. Aside from the law, there‘s the element of variety, cultivation techniques, especially the use of inappropriate and even abuse of chemical fertilizers, plant protection drugs.

Need the link between farmers and enterprises to extend the model of sustainable coffee production

Around 10 years, through various channels, Dak Lak coffee farmers less access to programs for sustainable coffee production and has made significant changes in perception. Ea Pok Coffee Company manages 574 hectares of coffee, with a total of 576 officers and staff, the employees of which 62% are ethnic minorities. 80% of the area‘s coffee exchange units for workers in the form of lump investment. It means , investing money Corporation entire cost of irrigation water , fertilizers , management , protection and implementation of their obligations to the State employees quit and just sharing ratio is Public 60% of companies , 40% of workers , exceeding production workers enjoy.

This form of contracting company traced the origin of coffee and implement effective production of coffee UTZ Certified standards (global certification for clean production) nearly 10 years. Mr. Tran Cu, Director of the Company said: In the past when applying this program, contracted farmers not strictly abide by also producing experience, habit. But on the basis of newly secured rights, has asked workers make good obligations, the Company has established strict regulations. Specifically, workers contracted to produce in accordance with the technical process, specially harvest rate should reach 90% or more, if the violation will be penalized at the rate of 2 kg / kg fresh coffee. In contrast , high quality coffee made , the Company acquired a high price than the market price 450-500 USD / ton . With this approach , the contracting is increasingly assured and strictly abide by the provisions in the production , harvesting. Being a direct export , the company‘s products exported to Japan , the U.S. , some other EU countries.

He Y Thanh, trafficking in MAP, Ea Pok town, M‘gar Residential District, contracted to make sustainable coffee UTZ standards through Ea Pok Coffee Company share: Before any work experience, cost but did not yield much better. How sustainable coffee, in coffee plantations plans should be more careful care, less expensive, it also has a guide, monitoring should also be much more. All production work on the garden, he regularly update the book producers to know when weeding, cutting branches, harvesting ... Also sustainable coffee production under this program of Ea Pok Coffee Co. , Phan Van Khiem cheerfully : " Get the package has invested 1.4 ha of coffee and produce according to the UTZ program , my family very reassuring for stable yield , average 14 tonnes of fresh and especially price stability , not to worry massively from selling to raise money to cover services and investment”.

In fact, the program for sustainable coffee production has seen a lot of advantages for Vietnam, have a positive impact on farmers. They know the math, is more appropriate investment, reduce costs, increase production efficiency. For this program to succeed, according to Le Thai He, Director of Ea Tul Limited, might also require a sufficient condition, which is 3 elements: Land must be consistent, not hot in the development unsuitable areas; using varieties selected, qualified, to organic coffee plantations, previously too much inorganic fertilizer. In particular, the rate of harvest to ensure that this is related to the protection of security when entering the garden coffee harvest time. In addition , farmers also difficult to unilaterally implement because of lack legal status to meet certification when their coffee production to ensure high quality at high prices than the market price.

Conversely, businesses, buyers are not sufficient grounds to believe that the product can be monitored, controlled production of safe, sustainable during cultivation by farmers. Find the answer to this problem, Mr. Trinh Duc Minh, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Association of Buon Ma Thuot Coffee said that the program for sustainable coffee production should continue to expand in farmers however have held of production for farmers, businesses have links with farmers. But the problem is that businesses need to invest huge funds to link with farmers in this program but the support of the State not more . State policy should support some sew , some cost to business training , investment system inspection and monitoring ... if not will create burden for businesses .

A large area of old coffee needs time to re-watch. Along with continuing to apply to the area‘s business, hoping to produce sustainable coffee farming will be the right direction from the beginning for some of this area to reduce the coffee industry faces pressure with early aging coffee plantations were cultivated to ensure technical and not being "exploited" too much.

Source: The Dak Lak electronic