Vietnam, Lam Dong
Better market perspectives through sustainable production and certification
Quickfacts
| Project Name | Promotion of sustainable robusta coffee production in Lam Dong Province |
|---|---|
| Project Description | Develop a processing and marketing channel that addresses increasing consumer demand for traceable coffee and promote sustainable coffee production. |
| Beneficiaries | 400 |
| Key Objectives | |
| - Competitiveness | Establish an independent farmer organisation and support Utz certification and 4C verification of farmers |
| - Living Conditions | Improve working conditions for seasonal workers |
| - Environmental Conditions | Protect natural resources by disseminating Good Agricultural Practices and Good Processing Practices |
| Project Duration | January 2007 - December 2009 |
| International Partners | International Coffee Partners (ICP), Finnpartnership |
| Local Partners | Department of Agricultural and Rural Development, The District Agricultural Department, CafeControl (CC), The District Agricultural Centre, Lam Dong Agricultural Research and Experiment Centre (LAREC) |
Results
Mr. Oanh, a coffee farmer from the Di Linh district in Vietnam is thrilled. He was recently elected by the project to represent the community at a high ranking meeting at the Ministry for Agriculture and Rural Development in Vietnam’s capital city Hanoi, where he will represent the farmers within his sector.
"Thanks to the project, myself and my colleagues in the district have learnt a lot about improved coffee cultivation methods. Attending "Training of Trainers" has improved my knowledge. I feel much more confident about training other farmers or giving a speech in front of a group of people."
Mr Oanh and the other farmers in the district have been working hard to improve their coffee quality during the last few years and were now able to submit all required documents to the Ministry of Science and Technology to achieve a 4C verification.
Challenges
For most of his life Mr Oanh did not pay much attention to his coffee farm and the quality of his coffee. Like all the other farmers, he applied too much fertilizer thus unwittingly endangering his health . Insufficient soil management by the coffee farmers also led to increased soil erosion risks.
After the closing of the state coffee enterprise in Lam Dong the farmers are challenged to take the coffee operations into their own hands. However, they are currently highly dependent on the coffee collectors who pay them very little. The next step farmers want to achieve is the establishment of their own service and marketing organisation.
Actions Taken
Mr. Oanh was one of 400 farmers to attend a Farmer Field School and was so enthusiastic he immediately signed up for a Training of Trainers. "Keeping field records and studying technical training materials has taught me a lot. I can reduce fertilizer application without decreasing coffee productivity. At the end of the year, I received my field operational results through evaluation of the Farmer Field Book and could compare them with my colleagues’ results. This will enable myself and other farmers in the region to draw up a better coffee production plan in the future after active discussions among the participating farmers," he says.
Teaching other farmers better ways to run their farms has become Mr. Oanhs passion. Thanks to him and the other trainers 80% of the farmers in the Di Linh province have been successfully verified by the auditors of CafeControl on compliance with 4C standards.
Supporting the farmers' interest in improving their economic situation the project helps them in establishing their own organisation. In the mid to long run this will give them better market opportunities and access to relevant support services.
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