Leaders of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations delivered speeches at the workshop "Solutions for developing coffee cultivation in Son La province".

On October 31st, the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations, in collaboration with the Son La Provincial Union of Science and Technology Associations, organized a workshop titled "Solutions for Developing Coffee Cultivation in Son La Province." Representatives from various departments, agencies, cooperatives, and coffee-producing businesses in the province attended.

Son La province possesses outstanding advantages in terms of topography and climate for developing Arabica coffee – a type of coffee with high economic value and favored in many international markets. Since the late 1980s, the province has implemented the "Arabica Coffee Development Program," and since 2017, a series of new policies have been issued to encourage investment, improve quality, and build a sustainable coffee value chain.

These policies focus on supporting businesses and cooperatives in applying good agricultural practices, introducing high technology into production such as water-saving irrigation combined with fertigation, applying GIS/GPS in nutrient management, organic production, and forming linkages between raw material areas, processing, and consumption.

By the end of 2024, Son La had 23,312 hectares of coffee plantations, producing nearly 30,000 tons of green coffee beans, accounting for 47.9% of the country's Arabica coffee area and over 73% of the area in the Northern region. The province has established 5 production-processing-consumption linkage chains, 2 high-tech coffee growing areas, and 5 OCOP products (including 1 product that achieved a 5-star national rating). Each year, Son La exports approximately 31,700 tons of green coffee beans, worth 88.77 million USD, accounting for nearly 50% of the province's total export value, targeting major markets such as the EU, North America, the Middle East, and ASEAN.

A view of the conference.

However, the coffee industry in Son La still faces many challenges such as aging plantations, small-scale production, limited processing capacity, and inconsistent post-harvest preservation, all of which affect product quality.

At the workshop, 13 presentations focused on analyzing, critiquing, and proposing comprehensive solutions from production and processing to consumption. Delegates unanimously agreed that applying science and technology, strengthening supply chain linkages, and developing brands are key to helping Son La coffee reach further into the international market.

According to Ms. Pham Thi Ha, President of the Union of Science and Technology Associations of Son La province, for sustainable development, the coffee industry needs a comprehensive strategy, focusing on technology, supply chain linkages, and branding. This includes prioritizing the improvement of raw material areas, expanding the area of ​​specialty coffee, replanting high-quality new varieties, applying science and technology, and digital transformation in traceability.

According to Ms. Ha, building, managing, and promoting the "Son La Coffee" brand, linked to geographical indications, combined with trade promotion and expanding high-quality markets, will help Son La coffee consolidate its position, create a competitive advantage, and achieve sustainable development.