VINAGRI News - Cold-climate coffee has emerged as a sustainable economic driver for ethnic minority communities in Quang Ngai Province (It was formerly Kon Tum province), helping residents escape poverty and build stable livelihoods. With favorable weather and expanding cultivation, the province now has over 5,300 hectares under coffee and aims to increase that to 7,000 hectares by 2030.
Summary:
> The Arabica “cold-climate coffee” model in Mang Den and western Quang Ngai has helped hundreds of households lift themselves out of poverty.
> The product “Cà phê xứ lạnh Kon Tum Arabica Coffee” (“Kon Tum Arabica Cold-Climate Coffee”) has been certified, enhancing market competitiveness.
> The province is encouraging investment in coffee processing plants to add value to local products.
> The specialty Bourbon variety - known as the “Queen of Coffees” - is being introduced to diversify and upgrade quality.
Cold-climate coffee thrives in the highlands
In Kon Tu Ma village (Mang Den commune, Quang Ngai Province, It was formerly Kon Tum province), the Arabica coffee model - commonly known as cold-climate coffee - is flourishing. The village’s 57 households all grow coffee, with each family cultivating from half a hectare to more than one hectare. Thanks to coffee, most households have escaped poverty and now enjoy stable incomes without having to migrate for work.
A Luong, a 26-year-old Xo Dang farmer, manages more than two hectares of coffee, with one hectare in stable production for 7 - 8 years. “Here in the highlands, the climate is cool enough that we don’t need irrigation. If we can afford fertilizer, it helps improve yields and reduce labor costs. On average, one hectare can generate 70 - 100 million VND per year,” he said.
According to another farmer, Mr. Vuong, coffee trees begin flowering after three years and are harvested mainly from October to November. The predictable growth cycle allows farmers to plan their budgets and labor efficiently.
Under the province’s Sustainable Cold-Climate Coffee Development Plan, Mang Den was assigned to expand coffee cultivation to more than 740 hectares by 2025. So far, 672 hectares have been developed, reaching over 90% of the target, with 225 hectares already in production at an average yield of 1.58 tons per hectare, producing nearly 900 tons annually.
The product “Cà phê xứ lạnh Kon Tum Arabica Coffee” (“Kon Tum Arabica Cold-Climate Coffee”) has been granted a certification mark, strengthening its market position. The commune plans to expand cultivation by another 1,000 hectares in the near future.
Nguyen Nhat Truong, Standing Vice Chairman of the Mang Den People’s Committee, said: “Local farmers are proactively expanding cultivation due to favorable prices. The commune aims to establish an industrial cluster to attract investors and develop coffee processing facilities, enhancing product value.”
Enhancing the value of cold-climate coffee
Beyond Mang Den, other highland areas in western Quang Ngai, such as Tu Mo Rong, are also investing in specialty coffee cultivation. Recently, Xo Dang farmers there received technical guidance from Dr. Pham S on cultivating the Bourbon variety - renowned globally for its refined flavor, balanced sweetness, and smooth acidity. Bourbon, one of the world’s oldest Arabica cultivars, thrives at altitudes of 1,100 - 2,000 meters in cool climates.
According to Tran Quoc Huy, Chairman of the Tu Mo Rong People’s Committee, 95% of the commune’s population are Xo Dang people. “Inviting Dr. Pham S to directly train farmers and provide seedlings and technical materials is a key step in realizing the local Party Congress’s resolution to improve livelihoods through coffee, medicinal herbs, and sustainable forestry,” he said.
The commune plans to assign agricultural officers to visit farms and provide technical support, while also calling for enterprise partnerships to expand cultivation, build the “Tu Mo Rong Specialty Coffee” brand, and establish local processing facilities.
Toward sustainable development and cultural tourism
Many upland communes in western Quang Ngai are shifting from low-value crops like cassava to high-value coffee. Beyond its economic potential, cold-climate coffee is becoming a multi-value crop - serving as both a commercial product and a driver of eco-tourism and cultural preservation.
Nguyen Hoang Tam, Director of the Quang Ngai Plant Protection and Crop Production Division, said the province currently has over 5,300 hectares of cold-climate coffee, concentrated in western communes, and aims to expand to 7,000 hectares by 2030.
“This crop is highly suited to the region’s soil and climate. Grown under natural conditions with organic practices, it reduces input costs and pest pressure while maintaining quality and sustainability. Its price is typically higher than Robusta, helping farmers significantly boost income,” Mr. Tam noted.
The agricultural sector is now advising the provincial government to attract enterprises to invest in deep processing and develop production linkages with farmers - ensuring stable output, improving competitiveness, and raising the value of Quang Ngai’s cold-climate coffee in both domestic and international markets.
NPK/Vinagri News
No comments:
Post a Comment