The Vietnam Coffee Association expressed its concerns that current high coffee prices are prompting farmers to expand the coffee cultivation area, which will lead to the low quality of coffee and price decreases, local newspapers reported.
Chairman of the Vietnam Coffee Association Luong Van Tu said that the association is trying to keep the coffee cultivation area at 500,000 hectares nationwide, which is expected to have the average capacity of two or 2.4 ton per hectare.
Le Van Duc, Head of the Department for Industrial and Fruit Plantation under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), said that as the prices of coffee keeps increasing, hitting VND40,000 a kilo in early February.
In central highlands Dak Lak province, Vietnam’s coffee belt, the prices of coffee saplings are offered at VND4,000 per tree. Meanwhile, officials from Dak Lak Department for Agriculture and Rural Development said that the prices may rise to VND8,000 or VND10,000 each in May 2008.
The statistics of the institute about the coffee cultivation area do not coincide with the statistics provided by local departments for agriculture and rural development.
The Vietnam Coffee Association believes Vietnam should keep the coffee cultivation area at 500,000 hectares, and export US$1.5 billion or US$1.6 billion worth of coffee a year.
Tu from the association has reminded farmers that coffee plants need a lot of water, especially when they blossom and the weather has big impacts on coffee productivity.
Duc from MARD said that the ministry has asked local authorities to check the coffee plantation area, and take necessary measures to improve old and stunted plants with the age of 20-30 years. (Vietnamnet, VOV)
Vietnamese
