Great hope from small coffee beans

Pơ Nơm coffee is the result of the dedication and innovative thinking of the Ma ethnic women in Dam Rong 1.

In this context, building the Pơ Nơm coffee brand is not only a starting point for the family's economic development but also an effort to promote clean, green, and safe agriculture.

According to Ms. K'Đào, the head of the cooperative, the name Pơ Nơm means mountains and forests, reflecting the deep connection between people and nature, the mountains and forests, and the preservation of traditional cultural values that have been associated for generations by the ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands. This spirit has become the guiding principle throughout the cooperative's production journey. They not only grow coffee, but also imbue each coffee bean with their love for nature, their belief in clean agriculture , and their aspiration to improve the quality of life for the community through sustainable development.

The members of the cooperative are young women, the oldest born in 1992, and the others in 1996. They had the opportunity to participate in community activities of the Caritas Da Lat organization and were inspired by a group of women in Di Linh - the Oh Mi Koho Coffee Cooperative. The journey of the Pơ Nơm Coffee Cooperative began in 2021, when the women started a transition phase, completely stopping the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and only using self-composted fertilizers. After visiting sustainable coffee farming models in the province, they carefully selected ripe cherries, washed them, dried them on high racks, and meticulously ground the beans. At that time, they did not have their own factory, so the roasting, grinding, and packaging processes were outsourced to other facilities. From their first customers, the group gradually built trust and loyalty, eventually turning them into regular customers.

In early 2025, the cooperative received a house from a villager to use as a workshop, and with financial support from Caritas Da Lat, the Pơ Nơm coffee workshop was established. The cooperative was also officially founded with the assistance and witness of the local government. Within the cooperative, Ms. K'Đào is perhaps the most skilled. As the group leader, she had the opportunity to learn from many places, arranging time to learn roasting, grinding, and brewing from a local establishment. From her initial awkwardness and clumsiness with her first batch of self-roasted coffee, she is now confident enough to handle all the techniques and is in the process of sharing her knowledge with other members. Each month, although they only sell a few dozen kilograms of coffee, the members have gained additional income to cover their living expenses. This has further strengthened their resolve to work together on this challenging path.
Having worked directly with members of the cooperative from the beginning, Mr. Hoang Tung - Vice Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Dam Rong 1 commune - also acknowledged the efforts and initiative of the women in Pang Sim village. According to Mr. Tung, to continue expanding and developing, the cooperative needs to focus more on improving the productivity and quality of coffee beans. The local authorities will support the cooperative in promoting and introducing its products. Importantly, the women need to overcome difficulties to sell their products through e-commerce channels, diversify intercropping in their coffee gardens, or utilize machinery to produce additional dried products characteristic of the region.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/hi-vong-lon-tu-nhung-hat-ca-phe-nho-382781.html