The coffee plantation is over 30 years old...

Mr. Hoang Van Thang is a renowned coffee farmer in Chu Prong district, Dak Lak province. His coffee plantation is lush and green, with all the trees being of uniform height. Notably, the trees have wide canopies, long branches, and, according to experts, are well-shaped.

Smart Coffee Farming (Part 1): A coffee plantation over 30 years old still yields good results. Video : Quang Sung

The coffee plantation, over 30 years old, is still yielding good results.

Mr. Thang has about 2 hectares of pure coffee plantations, with each tree yielding approximately 5-7 kg of coffee beans per harvest. What's special is that the coffee trees here are over 30 years old.

“The coffee trees in this garden were planted around 1994-1995. I bought the garden in 2015, and two years later I grafted the entire garden, and I have been harvesting them ever since,” Mr. Thang said.

Mr. Hoang Van Thang (on the right) is discussing the garden's situation with Dr. Ton Nu Tuan Nam - former head of the science department at the Tay Nguyen Institute of Agricultural and Forestry Science and Technology. Photo: Quang Sung

Despite its age, Mr. Thang's coffee plantation still yields good results. Each year, his 2 hectares produce about 9 tons of coffee beans.

Currently, Mr. Thang is dedicating 1 hectare to participate in a smart coffee farming model adapted to climate change in the Central Highlands region, jointly implemented by the National Agricultural Extension Center, the Central Highlands Agricultural and Forestry Science and Technology Institute, and Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint Stock Company.

Of that area, one-third will be cultivated using traditional methods, as the farmers have been doing for a long time. The remaining two-thirds will be cultivated using a process developed by scientists for comparison and contrast between the two farming methods.

According to Dr. Ton Nu Tuan Nam, former Head of the Science Department of the Tay Nguyen Institute of Agricultural and Forestry Science and Technology, scientists will continue to work with the orchard owners to care for the trees, fertilize them, and demonstrate that the fertilization process of the model will bring about production efficiency and ensure soil fertility.

Mr. Thang's coffee plantation is well-known among farmers in the commune. Photo: Quang Sung

"In two-thirds of the area, we divided the fertilization into two parts: half using the old formula, and the other half using a new process with added phosphorus-dissolving microorganisms, nitrogen-fixing microorganisms, and antagonistic microorganisms to combat disease," said Dr. Nam.

Smart coffee farming practices are constantly evolving.

Dr. Pham Anh Cuong, Head of Research and Development at Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint Stock Company, said that fertilizers with new characteristics are expected to be more effective than the conventional farming practices of farmers.

"However, we still rely on a principle that has been applied for a long time: during the dry season, fertilizers must be suitable to help the plants recover quickly and nourish the fruit, prevent premature fruit drop, and promote rapid fruit growth. During the rainy season, suitable fertilizers are needed to help the fruit grow faster, and at the end of the fruit-growing period, there must be a fertilizer with sufficient nutrients and essential elements to ensure high-quality coffee beans and stable yields," Dr. Cuong explained.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Bo – Former Director of the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (on the right) discusses smart coffee farming processes with farmers. Photo: Quang Sung.

To develop a climate-smart coffee farming process adapted to climate change in the Central Highlands, scientists gathered a great deal of information about the natural conditions of the plantations, the farming practices of the local people, and more.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Bo – former Director of the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences, analyzing multiple samples and reports will identify the limitations of the orchard and the land in question. From there, a truly effective fertilization formula and process can be developed, and the process can be adjusted to suit each specific model.

"Smart coffee farming requires meeting all the nutritional needs of the coffee plant, assessing the current state and fertility of the soil, the condition of the plantation, and whether it's a monoculture or intercropping system," Dr. Bo said.

Mr. Thang's coffee plantation, over 30 years old, still yields good results. Photo: Quang Sung

Coffee cultivation processes are not static but change according to natural conditions, the state of the plantation, market fluctuations, and the investment capacity of the farmer. This involves a close integration of fertilizers, varieties, cultivation systems, irrigation, etc., and research is not only focused on monoculture coffee farming but also on intercropping plantations.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Bo

Source: https://danviet.vn/canh-tac-ca-phe-thong-minh-bai-1-vuon-ca-phe-hon-30-nam-tuoi-20240305165419648.htm