The coffee industry is making a breakthrough.

Coffee, a crop that provides a livelihood for 600,000 households and approximately 2 million workers, is expected to generate $8.4 billion in exports by 2025. Sustainable development requires comprehensive solutions.

Productivity is three times higher than the world average.

Coffee is the main crop in the Central Highlands and Northwest regions of Vietnam, classified as a major crop with an area of ​​approximately 730,000 hectares and an annual production of about 1.8 million tons. Vietnamese coffee has developed strongly since 1980, primarily due to its cultivation on basalt soil and its suitable altitude above sea level. Furthermore, the climate and weather conditions, especially rainfall and temperature in these growing regions, are also favorable for coffee cultivation.

The average coffee yield in Vietnam is approximately 3 tons of green beans per hectare, more than three times the world average. Photo: PC.

According to Dr. Phan Viet Ha, Deputy Director of the Western Highlands Agro-Forestry Science and Technology Institute (WASI), the prolonged dry season in coffee-growing regions poses a challenge regarding irrigation water; however, it also creates conditions that help coffee plants differentiate flower buds well and uniformly, a factor in achieving high yields. In many areas, such as the Buon Ma Thuot plateau, the high diurnal temperature range helps coffee plants accumulate aromatic compounds better, which is a prerequisite for developing high-quality coffee.

According to Dr. Phan Viet Ha, the coffee industry's current success is due to numerous supportive policies from the State, which have provided opportunities for development. From the 1980s (20th century), coffee cultivation flourished in state-owned agricultural and forestry farms and the development of new economic zones in the Central Highlands. This was a foundational period for the coffee industry's current development. Simultaneously, the State has consistently implemented policies to support development in planning, scientific and technological research, agricultural extension, and the transfer of advanced techniques, ensuring sustainable development for the coffee industry. Recently, the coffee replanting program has been highly significant, leading to dramatic improvements in productivity and quality within the industry.

The Vietnamese coffee industry is the main source of livelihood for more than 600,000 farming households with approximately 2 million workers. Photo: PC.

“Currently, the average yield of Vietnamese coffee is about 3 tons of beans per hectare, more than three times the world average, and nearly double that of Brazil, the world's number one coffee producer. Vietnamese coffee products are present in the markets of 85 countries,” said Dr. Phan Viet Ha.

In addition, Vietnamese farmers have a good grasp of coffee cultivation techniques; the extensive agricultural extension network, coupled with the diligence, hard work, and eagerness to learn of Vietnamese farmers, has made coffee cultivation techniques ingrained in their culture, resulting in high yields and good quality coffee.

“In addition, the presence of the WASI Institute with its comprehensive research on coffee plants has also greatly supported production,” Dr. Ha said, adding that due to climate change, the area suitable for growing Arabica coffee is gradually shrinking worldwide; meanwhile, high-quality Robusta coffee is a strength of Vietnam, and this type of coffee is essential for processing instant coffee and blended coffee. At that time, high-quality Robusta coffee, with its wide adaptability, will become popular.

Currently, Vietnam is the world's second-largest coffee exporter, after Brazil. Photo: PC.

The achievements of Vietnam's coffee industry in recent years are extremely impressive, as shown in the figures: Vietnam is the world's second-largest coffee exporter, after Brazil, and the world's leading producer of Robusta coffee.

Coffee has consistently been a high-value export product among Vietnam's agricultural exports. In the 2024-2025 crop year, Vietnam achieved record exports with a value of US$8.4 billion, a 55.5% increase compared to the previous year, with an export volume of approximately 1.5 million tons. Furthermore, the Vietnamese coffee industry provides a primary livelihood for over 600,000 farming households and approximately 2 million workers, contributing to socio-economic development in the Central Highlands, Northwest Vietnam, and other coffee-growing regions.

Achievements in breeding

For Vietnam's coffee industry to have the highest productivity in the world and be the world's second-largest exporter, achievements in introducing new varieties into production must be mentioned. According to Dr. Phan Viet Ha, the achievements in scientific and technological research in coffee breeding by WASI, transferred to farmers over the past nearly 20 years, have contributed to promoting the development of this crop. WASI has 20 recognized coffee varieties for production, including: 14 Robusta varieties and 6 Arabica varieties.

Among the cultivated Robusta coffee varieties, the TRS1 variety, grown from seed, is the most popular and widely planted by farmers (accounting for approximately 85%); followed by grafted Robusta varieties TR4, TR9, TR11, vine coffee, and dwarf green coffee (accounting for approximately 15%). Among Arabica coffee varieties, Catimor is the most commonly grown; newly hybridized Arabica varieties such as TN1, TN2, and THA1, although achieving high yields and quality, are still planted in smaller areas.

The TRS1 robusta coffee variety, grown from seed, is a popular variety currently used for replanting. Photo: Phuong Chi.

Dr. Ha added: The TRS1 seedling coffee variety and the grafted TR4, TR9, and TR11 varieties achieve actual yields of 4-5 tons of beans/ha during the stable commercial production phase, with some households achieving 7-8 tons of beans/ha due to good care conditions. In addition, WASI has researched, perfected, and transferred advanced techniques in cultivation, plant protection, harvesting, and processing to farmers for production, ensuring the full application of technical packages according to different development orientations, moving towards sustainable development.

Currently, the proportion of deeply processed coffee in Vietnam (roasted and ground coffee, instant coffee) is increasing. Many large-scale, modern processing plants have been invested in, helping to increase the added value of coffee beans, instead of just exporting them raw. In addition, programs to develop high-quality and specialty coffee are also being strongly developed, further contributing to enhancing the reputation and position of Vietnamese coffee.

5 solutions for a breakthrough in the coffee industry.

However, climate change poses a significant challenge to Vietnamese coffee cultivation. Droughts and water shortages during the dry season are becoming increasingly severe; in addition, unseasonal rains affect the flowering, fruiting, harvesting, and preservation of coffee products. Furthermore, the large area of ​​aging coffee plantations, small-scale production, increasingly stringent market standards, and heavy reliance on raw coffee exports are all issues facing the coffee industry.

To ensure sustainable and breakthrough development of the coffee industry in the future, according to Dr. Phan Viet Ha, Vietnam needs to accelerate the replanting of aging coffee plantations, mandating the use of new varieties with high yield, quality, and adaptability to unfavorable conditions. Most importantly, there needs to be a gradual shift from intensive farming to sustainable practices such as intercropping with durian, pepper, and other fruit trees; applying water-saving irrigation, drip irrigation, localized sprinkler systems, and integrated pest management (IPM). “Especially important is the application of new technologies in precision agriculture and smart agriculture to reduce production costs, minimize impact on land and water resources, and reduce emissions,” Dr. Ha shared.

High-quality coffee development programs and specialty coffees are increasingly contributing to enhancing the reputation and standing of Vietnamese coffee. Photo: Phuong Chi.

Furthermore, Vietnam urgently needs to build a national database on growing areas, including growing area codes, and establish close links between businesses and farmers to collect and digitize shipment information and locate farms; this is a "vital" solution to meet EUDR regulations. Establishing traceability data is also a solution for accessing markets for high-quality, high-value products.

Simultaneously promoting deep processing is key to increasing the added value of Vietnamese coffee. The government needs policies to encourage and attract investment in factories processing instant coffee, roasted coffee, and other high-value extracted products.

Focus on building a national brand for Vietnamese coffee associated with quality, sustainability, and cultural storytelling. Besides traditional markets, actively explore niche markets such as specialty coffee and organic coffee.

Dr. Phan Viet Ha: “In the coming time, it is necessary to eliminate fragmented production by promoting cooperative linkage models and cooperative group linkages; creating links between farmers and businesses to enable the synchronized application of scientific and technological advancements, producing high-quality and stable products, and meeting the diverse requirements of the market.”

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/nganh-hang-ca-phe-but-pha-d780888.html