Honoring Khe Sanh Arabica Coffee

Khe Sanh (Huong Hoa district) is a red basalt soil region with a tradition of coffee cultivation dating back to the 19th century. Khe Sanh Arabica coffee is one of eight key coffee-growing regions in Vietnam, currently cultivating coffee in over 8,000 households across approximately 3,700 hectares, mainly concentrated in the communes of Huong Phung and Huong Tan. After years of experimentation with Arabica varieties such as Bourbon and Liberica (jackfruit coffee), the Catimor variety, belonging to the Arabica family, has now become the key variety, establishing the brand of Khe Sanh Arabica.

The land in Khe Sanh, Huong Hoa is suitable for coffee cultivation - Photo: TN

According to Hoang Dinh Binh, Head of the Agriculture and Rural Development Department of Huong Hoa district, in order to develop the main crop in the area, help coffee farmers increase their income and improve their living standards, and at the same time affirm the brand of Khe Sanh Arabica coffee, the district has assessed the current situation and selected existing raw material areas in the locality to have appropriate restoration and regeneration solutions. The district's strategy is to raise the quality of Khe Sanh Arabica coffee to a national level, aiming for the export market.

Accordingly, the district has designated areas for the concentrated production of specialty coffee, applying high technology. To effectively and sustainably implement the specialty coffee production strategy, the district has planned key coffee production areas. Policies are in place to support the development of planned specialty coffee raw material areas and to build a traceability system for these areas. Investments are also being made in machinery and supporting facilities, as well as training in advanced coffee processing techniques to support the production of specialty coffee.

Simultaneously, promote activities to advertise, facilitate trade, and develop specialty coffee brands both within and outside the province. In particular, traditional farming areas with high yields and quality coffee, such as Huong Phung and Huong Tan, will be utilized to develop into high-quality coffee production zones.

Introducing new, high-quality coffee varieties to help farmers replant their coffee plantations. Simultaneously, the district organizes training courses, transfers technology, and opens specialized training classes for management staff, businesses, and those directly involved in coffee production. It also supports producers of specialty coffee in building infrastructure, assessing product quality, and finding markets for their products.

Families participating in training sessions at the international workshop on agricultural tourism consulting - Photo: Provided

In recent years, coffee growers in Huong Hoa district have focused on producing specialty coffee, emphasizing quality improvement and gradually building the Khe Sanh Arabica coffee brand. Currently, farmers, processing units, and purchasing businesses are collaborating to produce the highest quality coffee beans.

To promote the improvement of Vietnamese coffee quality and bring Vietnamese coffee to the world, in 2021, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development launched the "Development of Vietnamese Specialty Coffee" project for the period 2021-2030, implemented in eight provinces of Vietnam, including Quang Tri. During the 2021-2025 period, the coffee cultivation area is projected to reach 11,500 hectares, accounting for 2% of the total coffee area nationwide; during the 2026-2030 period, the coffee cultivation area is projected to reach 19,000 hectares, accounting for 3% of the total coffee area nationwide.

In partnership with farmers in the production and processing of clean coffee, Khe Sanh Agricultural Products Cooperative and Pun Coffee Co., Ltd. have collaborated to support organic coffee production, implementing a model of bringing forests into gardens, developing coffee raw material areas according to agroforestry criteria, creating biodiversity from forest gardens and diversifying livelihoods for farmers.

Pun Coffee is a business that not only grows coffee but also has a policy of linking and building a quality coffee model from farm to farm, including cultivation. This includes intercropping shade trees and forestry trees, managing weeds, using bio-fertilizers from agricultural waste, and limiting the use of chemicals. In case coffee plants develop diseases, the disease prevention products used are all tested and have full traceability information.

Coffee harvesting in Huong Phung, Huong Hoa - Photo: TRA THIET

Currently, after years of declining acreage due to crop failures, the Khe Sanh Arabica coffee growing region is gradually being reinvested in and replanted. Thanks to the efforts of Pun Coffee and its group of processing units over the years, Khe Sanh Arabica coffee has been honored on the map of Vietnamese specialty coffee.

In particular, Arabica Khe Sanh coffee produced by Pun Coffee won first prize at the Vietnam Specialty Coffee Competition organized by the Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Association, and in 2021, 2023, and 2024, Arabica Khe Sanh coffee produced by Pun Coffee was consistently ranked as the top 1 specialty coffee in Vietnam.

Currently, the Khe Sanh Arabica coffee brand, which Pun Coffee is producing and processing, has established its position on the map of specialty coffee in Vietnam and globally. This is because the product not only provides high-quality coffee beans but also has a sustainable impact on the environment, creates social welfare for the people, especially ethnic minorities, and makes Khe Sanh worthy of its reputation as a unique coffee region in Vietnam.

Tan Nguyen

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/vinh-danh-ca-phe-arabica-khe-sanh-190280.htm