Smart farming: The "key" to elevating Gia Lai coffee

(GLO)- In order to improve productivity, quality and adaptability to climate change, in 2023, the Central Highlands Agricultural and Forestry Science Institute will coordinate with localities in Gia Lai province to deploy a smart coffee farming model. This is considered the "key" to raising the level of Gia Lai coffee.

After a period of application, the smart farming model has proven to be clearly effective: helping coffee trees grow healthily, increasing productivity, superior bean quality, while reducing costs and risks for growers.

From changing the way of doing things to sustainable efficiency

The smart coffee farming model applies organic fertilization processes, balances soil fertility and fertilizes according to the actual nutritional needs of crops. In particular, the use of BioSpring biological products for crops focuses on improving soil and plant health through the addition of beneficial microorganisms.

BioSpring products, especially probiotics, can help plants grow better, resist pests and diseases, reduce environmental impacts and increase agricultural efficiency.

From there, the results are clear: reducing fruit drop rate by 7-15%, increasing productivity by 9-16%, large, uniform coffee beans, with fewer pests and diseases than the control garden.

The coffee growers’ profits have therefore increased from 16% to over 23%, while production costs have not increased at all. The model has shown high replicability, in line with the current sustainable agricultural orientation of the Central Highlands.

Mr. Nguyen Van Thien's coffee garden ( right ) is lush thanks to applying a smart farming model. Photo: NS

In village 1 (Ia Phi commune, Gia Lai province), Mr. Nguyen Van Thien's family is one of the pioneers participating in the model. He said that many years of chemical fertilizers have caused the coffee garden to fade, productivity to gradually decrease, and even affect the family's health.

After switching to smart farming, his family's 1,600 coffee trees have grown well, estimated to yield 35-40 tons of fresh fruit this season. "From that obvious effect, many households in the village have also begun to change their thinking, limiting the use of chemical fertilizers, moving towards organic," Mr. Thien shared.

Mr. Luong Van Suc's family (village 3, Ia Phi commune, Gia Lai province) has 1.5 hectares of coffee participating in the model. Previously, he took care of it using traditional methods, using a lot of chemical fertilizers, causing soil degradation and poor plant growth. Since switching to smart farming processes, his coffee garden has grown healthily, the fruit ripens evenly, and the yield is stable.

"Following this model helps reduce effort and costs while the profit is clearly higher than the old way of doing things," Mr. Suc affirmed.

According to Dr. Truong Hong, former Director of the Central Highlands Agricultural and Forestry Science and Technology Institute, the smart farming model helps farmers fundamentally change their production thinking.

People know how to choose high-quality coffee varieties that adapt to climate change, fertilize properly and water sparingly instead of relying on experience. The model also helps prevent pests effectively, spraying pesticides only at harmful levels, contributing to environmental protection.

Mr. Nguyen Van Thien ( left cover ) instructs villagers on how to compost biological products to fertilize crops. Photo: NS

In particular, intercropping with high-value crops such as durian and pepper helps diversify income sources, reduce risks and move towards sustainable agricultural development. “Input costs are reduced, productivity increases by 5-15%, and seed quality is significantly improved. With the intercropping model, economic efficiency is even higher,” said Dr. Hong.

Boldly replant new varieties

Along with the smart farming model, many Gia Lai farmers have boldly replanted old coffee gardens with new high-yield varieties, combined with the application of advanced technical processes.

Mr. Nguyen Tan Luc (village 4, Chu Se commune, Gia Lai province) said: 3 years ago, his family decided to cut down more than 1,000 old coffee trees to replant Thien Truong variety. Thanks to applying smart model, the coffee garden has developed well, the trees are healthy and fruitful.

“There are trees that yield up to 15 kg of fresh fruit, the average yield of the whole garden is estimated at more than 7 tons/ha, far exceeding before. The coffee beans are large, uniform, and of high quality,” said Mr. Luc.

According to Mr. Luc, the difference comes from replanting new varieties combined with organic farming. This is a sustainable approach that helps farmers maintain stable productivity, increase profits and protect the land in the long term.

Mr. Nguyen Tan Luc's ( right ) replanted coffee garden is growing well and bearing fruit. Photo: NS

Sharing the same view, Mr. Le Huu Anh - Director of Lam Anh Agricultural and Service Cooperative (Dak Doa commune, Gia Lai province) commented: Coffee replanting is gradually gaining people's attention.

“Currently, coffee prices are high, so people are still using their old gardens. However, for gardens that are too old and have low productivity, replanting is necessary to ensure long-term effectiveness,” Mr. Anh said.

New coffee varieties such as dwarf green and Thien Truong have yields twice as high as old gardens. If coffee grown for 20-25 years only yields 1-1.5 tons of beans/ha, then after 3-4 years of replanting it can reach 2.5-4 tons of beans/ha, or even higher in places with proper investment.

Lam Anh Agricultural and Service Cooperative regularly coordinates with the agricultural sector to organize training and technical guidance, helping people choose seeds, improve soil, and fertilize according to the correct process.

"In reality, replanted gardens with proper investment techniques are developing very well, with high productivity and uniform seed quality, bringing stable and sustainable income to growers," affirmed Mr. Le Huu Anh.

Dr. Phan Viet Ha, Deputy Director in charge of the Central Highlands Agricultural and Forestry Science Institute, said: In the coming time, the Institute will coordinate with localities to standardize the smart coffee cultivation program, expand training and technology transfer so that people can apply it widely.

“The goal is to build a healthy, efficient and sustainable agriculture for the entire Central Highlands region,” Mr. Ha emphasized.

The smart coffee farming model is opening up a new direction for Gia Lai farmers. Not only does it increase productivity and reduce costs, the model also contributes to soil improvement and adaptation to climate change.

By combining smart farming models with replanting new varieties, coffee growers not only improve their income but also create the foundation for a modern, sustainable and highly competitive Gia Lai coffee industry in the international market.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/canh-tac-thong-minh-chia-khoa-nang-tam-ca-phe-gia-lai-post570572.html