Workshop "Farmers and Sustainable Coffee Development"

On the morning of March 13th, the Dak Lak Provincial Farmers' Association organized a workshop titled "Farmers and Sustainable Coffee Development".

Attending the workshop were Vice President of the Vietnam Farmers' Association Dinh Khac Dinh; Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Truong Cong Thai; representatives of leaders from departments, agencies; Farmers' Associations of districts, towns, and cities; businesses, cooperatives, cooperative groups, professional associations, professional groups, liên kết groups, and outstanding farmer-entrepreneurs in the area.

The scene at the conference.

Speaking at the workshop, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Truong Cong Thai emphasized that Dak Lak is known as the "Coffee Capital of the Country" and, according to the province's socio -economic development orientation, coffee is identified as a key and strategic crop. In 2024, the province's total coffee production reached over 535,000 tons; exports reached 264,404 tons, contributing more than 55% of the province's total export turnover. In particular, the province's coffee industry has been creating stable jobs for approximately 300,000 people directly involved in production and nearly 200,000 people involved in processing and consuming coffee products.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Truong Cong Thai delivered a speech at the workshop.

Despite the achievements, the province's coffee industry still faces several challenges, including: coffee production is fraught with risks due to the impact of climate change and an unstable consumer market; production is fragmented and small-scale; the coffee value chain, from production, procurement, processing, preservation, and consumption, is not yet closely integrated and widespread; and the proportion of deeply processed coffee and high added value remains low.

The workshop provides an opportunity for farmers, scientists, managers, and coffee production and trading businesses to participate, exchange ideas, discuss factors influencing sustainable coffee development, and propose solutions to overcome difficulties and obstacles affecting sustainable coffee development. It aims to create breakthroughs in variety transformation, improve productivity and quality of commercial coffee, and contribute to the sustainable development of the coffee industry nationwide, and in Dak Lak in particular.

Chairman of the Provincial Farmers' Association Ya Toan Ênuôl speaks at the workshop.

At the workshop, delegates heard discussions from leading experts and representatives from farmers' associations, cooperatives, and coffee production and processing businesses on the goals, tasks, and solutions for sustainable coffee development in the province. These included: propaganda, dissemination, and mobilization of farmers to develop sustainable coffee; production linkages and development of OCOP-certified coffee products; the current situation, advantages, and challenges in sustainable coffee development; coffee varieties and some technical solutions for sustainable coffee production; quality management of coffee during production, harvesting, processing, and consumption; common global coffee certifications currently applied in Dak Lak province – opportunities and challenges; and connecting Dak Lak coffee trade towards sustainable development.

Mr. Nguyen Tien Dung, Deputy General Director of Simexco Dak Lak, delivered a presentation at the workshop.

In addition, representatives of farmer members, cooperatives, and production and business cooperatives also presented their opinions and suggestions, and together with representatives of departments, agencies, experts, and managers in the coffee sector, exchanged and discussed the factors affecting sustainable coffee development. They proposed effective solutions on how to manage nurseries to obtain good varieties to meet farmers' planting needs; solutions to minimize risks caused by climate change affecting coffee plants; and guidance for farmers on applying new varieties and post-harvest processing methods to improve productivity, quality, and meet the increasingly high demands of the market.

Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Farmers' Association, Dinh Khac Dinh, delivered a speech at the workshop.

Speaking at the workshop, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Farmers' Association Dinh Khac Dinh suggested that the Provincial Farmers' Association should continue to play a leading role in supporting farmers to develop sustainable coffee production in the future. This includes focusing 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; coordinating training in science, technology, and the formation of production linkages… He also expressed his hope that the provincial authorities would continue to pay attention, create mechanisms, and allocate resources to enable the Farmers' Association to effectively implement the contents and tasks of sustainable coffee development.

The workshop is one of the practical activities in response to the 9th Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival in 2025, thereby introducing and promoting the province's coffee products; assessing the situation of production, processing, and consumption of coffee products in the province in the past; and continuing to develop the coffee industry in the province to meet the requirements of the export market now and ensure stability and sustainability in the future.

Source: https://daklak.gov.vn/-/hoi-thao-nong-dan-voi-phat-trien-ca-phe-ben-vung-