HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam – Vietnam continues to replace old coffee tress. In the meantime, coffee polices aim to bring the total area under the crop down to 600,000 ha in 2020. In areas where soil conditions are suitable Arabica trees will replace Robustas. According to local sources, the Central Highlands region, the country’s largest coffee growing area, has replanted or grafted 108,800ha of old plants so far, meeting nearly 91 per cent of its target of 120,000ha by next year.
Lam Dong Province accounts for 54,000ha, the largest area in the region.
Farmers in the Tay Nguyen, which comprises Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, and Lam Dong provinces, have in recent years been growing new coffee varieties with high yields, quality and disease resistance such as TR4, TR9, TR11, and TR12 to replace old trees.
Varieties like TR4 are harvested in the dry season here, making it easier to harvest and process.
Traders in Vietnam are struggling to buy coffee beans from local farmers as domestic prices have remained low, while inventories have begun to decline, reports Reuters.
Some farmers in the Central Highlands, Vietnam’s key coffee growing area, sold coffee at 32,200-33,400 dong ($1.39-$1.44) per kg on Thursday, down from a range of 32,400-33,600 dong two weeks ago. “Farmers are complaining that prices are too low,” the trader said. “They are asking for at least 34,000 dong per kg.”
