Premature coffee fruit drop leaves farmers deeply concerned

In early July, coffee-growing areas across Gia Lai Province began experiencing widespread premature fruit drop, with green coffee cherries carpeting the ground beneath the trees. The phenomenon has affected large areas, leaving farmers increasingly anxious, as this is a critical stage when the trees are developing their fruit and determining final yields. Many growers said the number of fallen cherries is significantly higher than in previous years, with some orchards accumulating thick layers of immature fruit beneath the canopy within just a few days.

According to preliminary assessments, the primary cause is extreme weather conditions. A prolonged period of intense heat followed by the first rains of the season likely subjected coffee trees to thermal shock, disrupting their growth and triggering premature fruit drop.

At the nearly 1,000-tree coffee plantation owned by Nguyen Dung in Hamlet 4, Ia Ko Commune, around 500 trees in the upper section of the farm have been severely affected. Thick layers of immature green cherries now cover the ground beneath the trees, while many branches have become noticeably sparse, raising concerns about this season's harvest.

Dung said the problem first appeared more than 10 days ago and has shown no signs of easing. His family has proactively applied fungicides and treated the plantation for mealybugs, but the fruit drop has continued.

"We have applied fungicides and pest control measures, but they have made little difference", Dung said. "In my opinion, the prolonged heat followed by the first seasonal rains caused the coffee trees to experience thermal shock, resulting in widespread fruit drop."

Dung estimated that approximately 30% of the fruit had dropped from the affected trees. With around 500 trees impacted, his family expects to lose roughly 300 kilograms of green coffee beans this season. Without timely mitigation measures, the damage could worsen, significantly reducing both yields and household income in the upcoming harvest.

Siu Leng, head of Hamlet 4, said the problem has affected a wide area, including his family's coffee plantation of about 3,000 trees. Most of the fruit drop has occurred when the cherries were about the size of a chopstick tip, according to preliminary observations.

"The hamlet will assess the affected area and report the situation to local authorities so that technical agencies can investigate the cause and provide farmers with appropriate guidance," Siu Leng said.

Premature coffee fruit drop has also been reported in Ia Krel Commune. Nguyen Quoc Tu, Chairman of the Ia Krel Commune People's Committee, said the problem is mainly attributed to the uneven distribution of the season's first rains. As a result, many farmers were unable to apply fertilizer at the appropriate time, leaving coffee trees short of nutrients and more susceptible to physiological fruit drop. In addition, some growers have adopted multi-stem cultivation systems without increasing fertilizer inputs to match the trees' higher nutrient demands, further exacerbating fruit loss.

"To minimize damage, we advise farmers to apply balanced amounts of macronutrients, secondary nutrients, and micronutrients once soil moisture is adequate," Tu said. "Fertilizer application should also be adjusted according to the productivity of each plantation to reduce fruit drop. At the same time, growers need to strengthen pest management, particularly against mealybugs and root-knot nematodes, as these pests weaken the trees, reduce their ability to support fruit development, and ultimately lead to premature fruit drop."

Tu added that if there is no rainfall after fertilization, farmers should irrigate their fields to help dissolve the fertilizer and improve nutrient uptake, thereby reducing nutrient losses and avoiding unnecessary waste.

Phan Viet Ha, Acting Deputy Director of the Western Highlands Agriculture and Forestry Science Institute (WASI), said coffee trees are currently in a stage of rapid fruit enlargement, when their nutrient demand is at its highest. If soil moisture is sufficient and the trees receive a balanced supply of nutrients, premature fruit drop is generally minimal.

However, unfavorable weather conditions across the Central Highlands in recent weeks have adversely affected soil conditions and reduced the trees' ability to absorb nutrients. This is likely one of the key factors contributing to the increase in premature fruit drop. In addition, growers should carefully inspect their plantations for fungal diseases and other pests that may also be causing the fruit to fall prematurely.

"To minimize premature fruit drop, farmers should closely monitor their plantations to identify the underlying cause," Dr. Ha advised. "If the problem is caused by pests or diseases, these should be addressed first. Foliar fertilizers can then be applied to promptly replenish nutrients and improve the overall vigor of the coffee trees."