On May 6th, the Forum “Meet with Buon Ma Thuot – 1st time in 2016” was organized by Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association in coordination with the Journal of Economics and Forecasting - the official mouthpiece of Planning and Investment Ministry, Buon Ma Thuot Coffee and Cocoa Association and 123 Global., JSC with the participation of over 200 managers, experts on coffee from Departments, sectors, Business Association of Dak Lak province and Ho Chi Minh City as well as coffee production businesses in the Central Highlands.

Participants at the Forum
At the Forum, experts and researchers mainly focused on such issues as climate change-situation and solutions, Vietnam coffee in the context of international integration and innovation demands, important role of forecasting.
According to the evaluation of Dr. Dave D’haeve and his research team of Neuchatel University in Switzerland related to their research Project on hydrologic geology for coffee crops on Dak Lak basalt plateau, the research team found that coffee production in Vietnam is facing many difficulties due to shortage of water and climate change after researching for more than one year. At present, irrigation methods are unsustainable and affect to coffee output. Therefore, the Project aims to ensure that water amount will be sufficiently and equally supplied for all people in the Central Highlands. In addition, water should be saved by upgrading irrigation management in coffee sector, improving living conditions for local people and protecting the environment. As of now, the Project has concentrated on upgrading irrigation water management, designing, testing and implementing the weather early warning system in a province of the Central Highlands with the aim to support plantation management. This model will be expanded through training courses for farmers, and for policy advocacy. It is expected that the Project will help to save one billion cubic meters (m3) per year. The Project recommended that land using needs to closely links with geology at the provincial level, to change the traditional irrigation methods into the most effective irrigation methods to minimize dryness of dug wells, especially hot spots of water scarcity and areas suffering from biggest impacts. Meanwhile, the provinces need to develop methods of mapping hot spots of water scarcity in other basalt plateau with the same characteristics of the Central Highlands.

Dr. DaveD’haeve – Neuchatel University in Switzerland speaks at the Forum
According to the evaluation related to management methods and Geographical indication “Buon Ma Thuot Coffee”, Mr. Trinh Duc Minh – Chairman of Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Association said that Robusta coffee beans have been registered geographical indication (GI) “Buon Ma Thuot Coffee” in Vietnam.

Mr. Trinh Duc Minh – Chairman of Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Association speaks at the Forum
Dak Lak province has planned to complete management and controlling systems in order to register for GI recognition in the European Union, he said.
Minh also intimated that in the coming time, Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Association will continuously expand the scope of protection of deep-processing coffee, register for GI recognition “Buon Ma Thuot Coffee” for important markets, such as: European Union, China, Japan, ASEAN nations. Simultaneously, the Association will issue use certificates for agricultural organizations, strengthen the promotion and trade promotion, innovate brand identity system, etc.

Mr. Luong Van Tu – Chairman of Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association speaks at the Forum.
Facilitating a sustainable coffee development, the Chairman of Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association Luong Van Tu highlighted each province having its strength of coffee should set more radical strategies; focus on reviewing coffee production plans being suitable with natural conditions, especially irrigation resources; improve the quality to meet market requirements. Besides, he said, localities should promote linkages and build certificated high quality coffee areas to serve the coffee processing. Tu said that these localities have to continuously promote the application of scientific and technical advance in order to create conditions for farmers to access market information; build funds of coffee development and national brand of Vietnam coffee, etc.
Kim Bảo