Coffee aroma and the story of empowering Vietnamese female farmers

VTV.vn - On the occasion of Vietnamese Women's Day October 20, the talk show "Coffee Fragrance - Female Farmer's Handprints" was held at a coffee garden in Hiep Hung village, Dak Lak province.

The program is co-organized by Bayer Vietnam in collaboration with the National Agricultural Extension Center, Dak Lak Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, Dak Lak Provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment and the Better Life Farming project, to honor the role of women in agricultural cultivation and community development.

The event attracted nearly 200 delegates, including female coffee farmers, representatives of state agencies, experts and partners in the coffee value chain in the Central Highlands. This was an opportunity to summarize the activities of the Sustainable Coffee Ambassador Club, a program launched in early 2025 to empower and enhance the capacity of women in the agricultural sector.

The seminar "Coffee Fragrance - Female Farmer's Handprints" was held at a coffee garden in Hiep Hung village, Dak Lak province. Photo: Le Trang.

In particular, the program has the participation of Miss Bao - Miss Intercontinental 2022, Miss World Vietnam 2024, who will represent Vietnam to attend the 73rd Miss World in 2026. Bao Ngoc shared her joy of being present at the program as a woman as well as an inspiration, so that women can be more proactive in their work as well as in sustainable agricultural activities, thereby creating a more sustainable livelihood for themselves and their families.

At the event, female farmers had the opportunity to exchange experiences in sustainable farming, visit real models and learn about integrated crop management solutions and restore coffee gardens affected by climate change.

In addition, experts from the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center and Bayer also shared the effectiveness of the integrated plant health management model deployed from July to December 2025, implemented on Robusta coffee trees in the business phase with a scale of 4 hectares in 4 gardens in Ea Kar, Ea M'Droh, Phu Xuan and Ea Khal communes in Dak Lak province. Monitoring indicators include growth, development of reserve nodes, fruit drop rate, dry branch rate, rust rate, and yield.

Actual monitoring shows that the application of integrated plant health management has been successful in reducing branch drying, fruit drying and young fruit drop. Coffee trees in 4 model gardens have achieved plant health indicators such as tree growth, healthy trees, longer branches, low dry branch ratio, good fruit retention rate, high reserve branch length, increasing the potential for success in the following crops. The expected coffee yield in the model is 3.3 - 4.7 tons/ha, higher than the control of farmers (3 - 4.3 tons/ha), equivalent to an increase of 10 - 15%.

Pilot models applying sustainable farming solutions directly cultivated by female coffee ambassadors show productivity increases of 10-15% compared to traditional methods. Photo: Le Trang.

Experts also shared more about the golden principles and "4 rights" (right medicine, right dose, right time, right way) in using plant protection products, helping farmers ensure safety and efficiency in cultivation. In addition, the program also integrated health care content, contributing to raising comprehensive awareness for rural women.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Dinh Van Dang, Director of the Dak Lak Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, emphasized the importance of strengthening public-private cooperation and expanding the network of strategic partners in sustainable agricultural development, especially on key crops in the provinces. He also highlighted the role of capacity building for farmers, especially in focusing on inclusiveness and gender.

Mr. Dinh Van Dang, Director of Dak Lak Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, spoke at the event. Photo: Le Trang.

Representative of Bayer Vietnam, Mr. Kg Krishnamurthy, Head of Crop Science Division, shared his thoughts on the importance of sustainable agricultural practices and gender equality in agriculture. He said: "Empowering women in agriculture is essential not only for families but also for the sustainability of entire farming communities. By providing women with the tools and knowledge they need to succeed, we contribute to a more sustainable and prosperous agriculture sector."

From the perspective of a direct participant, Ms. Tran Thi Thanh Thuy, a female farmer of the Women Coffee Ambassadors Club, said that the program helped her learn many new techniques, improve productivity and become more confident in managing her coffee garden. In addition, the training sessions also provided her with knowledge on how to take care of her own health and that of her family.

The program was held on the occasion of Vietnamese Women's Day October 20, once again affirming the important role of women in agriculture. Photo: Le Trang.

According to the Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association (VICOFA), in just the first 7 months of 2025, the Vietnamese coffee industry exported about 1.1 million tons, reaching a value of 6 billion USD, an increase of 65% over the same period in 2024. It is expected that coffee export turnover could reach the historic milestone of 8 billion USD, affirming Vietnam's position on the world coffee map.

With increasingly diverse export markets and strict standards, supporting farmers, especially women, has become a key factor in helping Vietnamese coffee stand firmly on the world map. The success of the program not only brings useful knowledge and skills, but also strengthens the spirit of cooperation, affirming the important role of women in building sustainable agriculture.

Source: https://vtv.vn/huong-ca-phe-va-cau-chuyen-trao-quyen-cho-nu-nong-gia-viet-100251015175922678.htm