Regional research “Agricultural innovations review in Sub-Mekong region countries” in the framework of the project “Network for Agriculture and Rural Development Think-tanks for Countries in Mekong sub-region” – November 2022 - April 2023.

Arabica coffee has been grown in Son La province since 1945, becoming the main crop. With a 17,804-hectare area, it is Vietnam's second-largest Arabica coffee growing region. In 2017, the province was granted a geographical indication for coffee products like raw green coffee, roasted beans, and powdered coffee. However, production and processing have limitations, including limited affiliate organizations, renovation of old areas, and insufficient seed quality. The ARA-Tay Coffee cooperative model, founded in June 2020, has overcome these limitations.

Coffee harvesting in Son La province

Source: VnEconomy Newspaper.

After its establishment, the cooperative has trained members and hired experts from Buon Ma Thuot to guide them on planting, tending, harvesting, and preliminary processing techniques. They have also supported the construction of production workshops, fruit washing machines, coffee machines, packaging, and product packaging machines.

In 2019, the cooperative officially produced four high-quality coffee products, including natural green coffee beans, green honey coffee beans, natural coffee powder and beans, and coffee powder and honey beans. At the Vietnam specialty coffee contest in 2020, the coffee products of the cooperative ranked 7th among 60 coffee producing enterprises and cooperatives.

To expand production, the cooperative has signed contracts with 52 local Thai ethnic community households for five years, committing to higher purchase prices, science and technology transfer, and sustainable production development.

Click this link for detail information: Linkage model in the coffee value chain in Son La province