Son La arabica coffee sustains high yield by smart farming practices

Son La is currently the largest Arabica coffee-growing region in Viet Nam, with 33,628 hectares under cultivation, nearly 20,000 hectares of which are in the harvesting stage, producing around 37,700 tonnes of green coffee beans annually. Beyond being a key agricultural crop, coffee provides livelihoods and stable incomes for tens of thousands of households across the province’s mountainous terrain.

However, as the impacts of climate change become increasingly evident, combined with the aging of many coffee plantations and declining productivity, the need to transform cultivation practices towards green, resource-efficient, and climate-resilient production has become increasingly urgent.

To support coffee growers in the transition process, in February 2026, the Son La Provincial Agricultural Extension and Digital Transformation Centre, in collaboration with the provincial Farmers’ Union and Bình Điền Fertilizer Joint Stock Company, launched the model “Smart Climate-Adaptive Coffee Farming” in Hung Nhan Hamlet, Binh Thuan Commune, covering an area of 3.1 hectares.

Unlike traditional support programmes that focus mainly on providing agricultural inputs, this model adopts a comprehensive approach, from developing technical processes and transferring scientific advances to providing hands-on guidance directly in the fields. Technical officers work alongside farmers to monitor plant growth, provide timely recommendations, and adjust cultivation practices according to each growth stage, gradually establishing a more scientific and sustainable farming approach.

Ms. Nguyen Huyen Trang, an officer of the Son La Provincial Agricultural Extension and Digital Transformation Center, said that a key feature of the model is placing farmers at the center of the transition process. Instead of relying on experience-based farming methods, participating households receive systematic guidance on canopy pruning, nutrient management, water-saving irrigation, pest and disease control, and plant care throughout different growth stages. All solutions aim to improve the efficient use of water and fertilizers, reduce production costs while maintaining productivity, and enhance orchard quality.

Alongside these efforts, Binh Dien Ninh Binh Fertilizer Joint Stock Company has provided specialized fertilizer products and tailored nutrient solutions for each growth stage, helping improve coffee plants’ resilience against adverse weather conditions. The continuous support from technical staff has enabled production challenges to be addressed promptly, giving farmers greater confidence to change traditional farming practices and adopt advanced techniques.

After more than four-month implementation, the model has recorded initial positive results. According to technical assessments, the coffee gardens have shown good growth, with dense green foliage, uniform plant development, and high fruit-setting rates. Although more time is needed to fully evaluate productivity and economic efficiency, the initial results indicate that this approach is suitable amid the increasing impacts of climate change on the coffee sector.

Beyond technical benefits, the model has also brought about significant changes in farmers’ awareness. From relying mainly on experience-based cultivation methods, many households have proactively adopted new technical processes, focused on balanced nutrient management, improved fertilizer efficiency, saved irrigation water, and paid greater attention to preserving soil fertility.

As one of the three households participating in the model, with 1.4 hectares of coffee, Ms. Bui Thi Hang from Hung Nhan Hamlet, Binh Thuan Commune, said that previously her family applied fertilizer only once a year, resulting in low productivity and a high rate of defective beans. Through the model, her family received fertilizer support and guidance on splitting fertilizer applications into three stages, while agricultural extension officers also provided instructions on pruning branches and managing pests and diseases at each growth stage of the coffee plants.

“By now, my family has completed two rounds of fertilizer application under the guidance and supervision of technical officers. Through actual monitoring, I have seen that the coffee fruits are developing larger and more uniformly, and the premature fruit drop that occurred in previous years has no longer happened,” Ms. Hang shared.

Building on the initial results, the model demonstrates the effectiveness of collaboration among technical agencies, businesses, and farmers in transferring and applying advanced agricultural techniques. This serves as a foundation for further improving and expanding smart coffee farming models, contributing to the development of high-quality, climate-resilient coffee-growing areas while enhancing competitiveness and promoting the Son La coffee sector towards green and sustainable development.