Success from linking coffee production along the value chain

Members of Chieng Xee Agricultural Cooperative take care of coffee gardens.

These days, the members of the cooperative are focusing on taking care of the new coffee crop. Taking us to visit the garden, Mr. Quang Van Dien, Director of the cooperative, excitedly said: This year's coffee fruited at the right time when the weather was favorable, so the trees bore a lot of fruit. The cooperative directed the members to regularly prune the branches, creating ventilation for the trees to absorb light and grow stronger fruits. The estimated yield is 12-14 tons/ha. The happiest thing is that the products have been purchased by a place, the price is stable, and people are no longer worried like before.

Established in 2019 with 12 members, producing more than 40 hectares of coffee mixed with plums and apricots. In the early days of establishment, capital was low, techniques were limited, products were difficult to sell, traders forced down prices, making income unstable. However, in those difficult times, the members still persevered in the garden, determined to change their thinking and working methods. They renovated the mixed garden, intercropped reasonably, applied safe care processes, and gradually built a local specialty coffee brand.

The important push came in 2023, when the cooperative signed a cooperation agreement with Bich Thao Coffee Cooperative, participating more deeply in the value chain. From production, processing to consumption, there are strict processes, the coffee beans become uniform, delicious, and highly appreciated by the market. In the 2023 crop, the cooperative provided Bich Thao Coffee Cooperative with 10 tons of green coffee; in the 2024-2025 crop, the cooperative continued to provide 40 tons of specialty green coffee to Bich Thao Coffee Cooperative for export, the average income of each member reached about 400 million VND/year, a number they had never thought of before.

Leaders of Chieng An ward grasp the production and business situation of Chieng Xet Agricultural Cooperative.

From inside a spacious house newly built with money from selling coffee, looking out at the green coffee rows, Mr. Tong Van An, one of the members who has been with the Chieng Xet Agricultural Cooperative since the beginning, said: In the past, coffee growing was based on experience, if the harvest was good, it was up to the weather, if the harvest was bad, we had to accept it. The output depended on traders, the price was low. Since joining the cooperative, I have been guided on techniques, taken care of properly, the productivity has increased by 2-3 tons/ha, and the output is stable. Now looking at the lush green coffee garden, full of fruit, I feel that my efforts and faith have been rewarded.

Not stopping at the production stage, the Cooperative also boldly invested in deep processing of coffee beans. In 2024, after signing a cooperation contract with Bich Thao Cooperative, the Cooperative invested in purchasing a milling machine, installing a greenhouse, a temperature-controlled drying system, and applying the "honey" coffee processing technique - a new product line, favored by the market, with a value 2-3 times higher than normal coffee. In addition, the Cooperative also processed sugar-soaked apricots, a product recognized as a 3-star OCOP in 2023 and quickly won the hearts of consumers. Also in that year, the Cooperative continued to invest in designing packaging and product models of coffee products under the brand name of Chieng Xet Agricultural Cooperative, with codes and barcodes for traceability, and promoted at fairs, exhibitions, and on e-commerce platforms. Many orders from businesses and stores inside and outside the province have been directly connected, opening up a more sustainable direction.

As proof of success, the Director of the Cooperative invited us to enjoy a cup of sparkling “honey” coffee and then visit the Cooperative’s product display area. The aroma of roasted coffee, mixed with the sweet aroma of honey, brought a warm, relaxing feeling. On the shelves, coffee packages printed with the logo of the Chieng Xet Agricultural Cooperative were neatly arranged, becoming the pride of each member when the hometown products were not only sold locally but also to customers in and outside the province.

Display booth of agricultural products of Chieng Xet Agricultural Cooperative.

The cooperative's production and business activities also create jobs for more than 30 seasonal workers, with an income of 8-10 million VND/month. Mr. Quang Van Dung, a member of the cooperative, happily said: In the past, coffee was mainly sold fresh, prices were unstable, many households were not interested in investing. Now, with the cooperative providing technical guidance and product consumption, income has improved significantly. Everyone wants to switch to organic coffee for higher value.

In the conversation with me, Mr. Dien and the members repeatedly mentioned the future direction. They will focus on replanting old coffee areas, replacing them with new varieties with high productivity and quality. Along with that, they will apply organic production processes, reduce pesticides, increase microbial fertilizers, and preserve the ecological environment. The goal is that by 2030, the entire coffee area of the cooperative will switch to organic production, meeting the conditions for export to the most demanding markets.

The success of Chieng Xet Agricultural Cooperative is not only a change in a collective economic model, but also a testament to the solidarity of farmers. From the early days of struggle, they have risen to affirm the brand of Son La specialty coffee. With the support of the government and the determination of each member, the Cooperative is continuing to write the story of the journey to bring organic coffee beans to spread their fragrance further, affirming their value and brand in the domestic and foreign markets.

Source: https://baosonla.vn/kinh-te/thanh-cong-tu-lien-ket-san-xuat-ca-phe-theo-chuoi-gia-tri-fu3LNAuNR.html