Dak Lak (VNA) – Coffee growers in theCentral Highlands province of Dak Lak have applied internationally-recognisedprogrammes on sustainable coffee production to raise their incomes, accordingto the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

More than 40,500 coffee farming households inDak Lak have produced coffee in line with programmes such as UTZ certificates,Common Code for Coffee Community (4C) and Rainforest Alliance Certified Coffee(RFA).

They have produced 226,000 tonnes of coffeebeans on a combined area of 65,000 hectares each year, accounting for over 50percent of the annual output.  

All ten units granted with the GeographicalIndication of Buon Ma Thuot coffee have also joined certified coffee productionprogrammes.

In Cu M’gar district, the main coffee growing localityin Dak Lak, almost 10,000 coffee farming households have taken part incertified coffee production programmes with 15,000 hectares, making up 45percent of the district’s total coffee area.

These households have been provided with techniquesin growing, caring, watering, fertilizing, harvesting, processing andpreservation. They have been also instructed on how to reduce production costsand use fertilizers in order to minimize impacts on the environment.

Dak Lak province has led the nation in terms ofboth coffee area and output with more than 203,000 hectares and an annualoutput of at least 450,000 tonnes.-VNA