Women's Empowerment - A New Driving Force for Sustainable Agriculture

The program “Sustainable Coffee Women Ambassador Club” implemented in Dak Lak has proven that empowering women through technology transfer and capacity building is one of the most effective and sustainable solutions.

Representatives visited coffee gardens and shared experiences in sustainable farming.

At the seminar “Coffee Fragrance – Female Farmer’s Handprints” held on October 14, impressive results were shown from the demonstration model “Integrated Plant Health Management (IPHM) on Robusta coffee trees”. The model was deployed from July 2025 in 4 communes of Ea Kar, Ea M’Droh, Phu Xuan and Ea Khal, implemented by Dak Lak Agricultural Extension Center in coordination with Bayer Vietnam Co., Ltd.

The model results report shows that the application of advanced farming solutions not only helps plants become healthier but also brings outstanding economic efficiency. Specifically, compared to the traditional farming methods of farmers, the model has helped increase the expected yield by 12.8%, estimated at 3.9 tons/ha compared to 3.4 tons/ha in the control garden; the fruit drop rate decreased by 50.2% and the branch dry rate decreased by 53.3%. The coffee trees grow healthily, the number of reserve branches with new young leaves is 35.5% higher than the control, creating the premise for bumper crops in the future. More importantly, the IPHM solution helps manage pesticide residues, moving towards safe agriculture; at the same time protecting the health of producers, especially women - the main labor force in coffee gardens.

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

This is a summary activity of the "Sustainable Coffee Women Ambassadors Club" program, aiming to provide an overview of the models and activities implemented; evaluate the effectiveness of modern farming methods to support crop growth and prevent pests. At the same time, support female farmers to access new technical knowledge on agricultural production to respond to climate change and reduce pests; give opportunities for female farmers to participate and effectively take over family production activities, creating sustainable values.

Mr. Dinh Van Dang, Director of the Dak Lak Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, said that strengthening public-private cooperation and expanding the network of strategic partners plays an important role in the strategy for sustainable development of key crops in Dak Lak, especially in improving farmers' capacity, focusing on inclusiveness and gender factors. The "Sustainable Coffee Women Ambassador Club" was launched and operated effectively, bringing many essential benefits to the farming community. The club has equipped farmers not only with farming knowledge but also with useful sharing on health care, building strong families, thereby increasing farming productivity and improving farmers' lives, contributing to building and developing sustainable rural communities.

In addition to being advised on sustainable farming techniques, female farmers also receive advice on taking care of their own health and that of their families.

In addition to receiving advice on sustainable farming techniques, female farmers also receive advice on taking care of their own health and that of their families.

The event was also attended by Miss Bao Ngoc, Miss Intercontinental 2022, Miss World Vietnam 2024 and founder of the program "Gen Zero - Youth for Sustainable Development". She conveyed the message of comprehensive healthcare and encouraged women's participation in sustainable agriculture.

The success of the model comes not only from the technique but also from the change in the role and position of women. They are no longer passive workers but have become “female ambassadors” who master the technique, confidently manage and make decisions for the family’s production activities.

Sharing about this, Ms. Tran Thi Thanh Thuy, one of the female farmers participating in the club, said: "The training sessions have equipped me with useful techniques and knowledge on effective coffee cultivation, on how to protect health and welfare. At the same time, the program also brings connections within the community and partners to improve farmers' qualifications and bring more joy to daily farming work."

Ms. Tran Thi Thanh Thuy, one of the female farmers participating in the club, shared her joy at improving her farming techniques and gaining more knowledge about health care.

Mr. Kg Krishnamurthy, Director of Bayer Crop Science Vietnam, emphasized: Empowering women in agriculture is essential not only for families but also for the sustainability of the entire farming community. By providing women with the tools and knowledge they need to succeed, we contribute to a more sustainable and prosperous agriculture sector.

Currently, coffee is the main industrial crop of Vietnam, contributing greatly to the value of agricultural exports, making Vietnam the second largest coffee exporting country in the world after Brazil. In particular, in the first 9 months of 2025, coffee exports recorded remarkable growth, with a record figure of nearly 7 billion USD (up 61.4% over the same period last year) and it is forecasted that the whole year could reach 8 billion USD. Particularly, Dak Lak - the "capital" of coffee in the country, is contributing greatly to positioning the value of the best Vietnamese Robusta coffee beans on the world map.

Vietnam is currently the world's second largest coffee exporter after Brazil.

To create distinct flavors, in addition to objective factors, there is also a great contribution from farmers, including the hands of women in the first stage (care, harvesting) of the coffee supply chain. The initial success of the model has received attention and high appreciation from local authorities, as well as the response of many farmers through field seminars. For the "female farmers' fingerprints" to truly create a revolution in sustainable coffee production, the replication of effective models like this is extremely necessary.

According to Ms. Dang Thi Thuy, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, after the success of the model, the Department will direct the Agricultural Extension Center to continue to promote and replicate the model. Hopefully, Bayer will accompany the province to build a modern, safe and responsible agriculture, contributing to bringing the Vietnamese coffee brand to continue to reach further in the international market.

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/kinh-te/202510/trao-quyen-cho-phu-nu-dong-luc-moi-cho-nong-nghiep-ben-vung-8d61ac0/