FIDR is joining the "Sustainable Coffee Project", which is organized by AEON Co.,Ltd and set a goal of achieving the sustainability of production and business activity of coffee in Son La province, located in north-western region of Vietnam.
FIDR visited Son La province for the first time to conduct a survey on the basic information such as people's life, culture, coffee production and farming, which is the main source of income.

Son La province is recognized as one of the poorest provinces in Vietnam, and it takes 7 hours from Ha Noi city by car. On the way to the project sites, not only the scenery of mountains, but the diversification of agricultural farms and products, such as apricots, plums, mangos, longans, and especially, coffee which covers the hills, also attracted FIDR staff. In Son La province, Catimor coffee which belongs to the Arabica variety is grown with nice aroma, deep taste and high productivity.

Coffee farm

Farmers in Son La Province started to plant coffee in 1994 with a subsidy from the government. Since then, the number of coffee farmers as well as the coverage of coffee plants have been increasing incredibly in Son La Province. Up to now, almost all people in 3 coffee planting areas namely Son La city, Mai Son district, Thuan Chau district have their own coffee farms.

When we conducted workshop with coffee farmers, they shared that they are facing challenges such as unstable coffee prices, affection of extreme weather or high expenses on fertilizers and pesticides together with unstable household income. They said that they really want to have a platform to exchange their techniques and share their difficulties for improving their lives. Besides that, they dream to improve income and revitalize the local economy while preserving their culture.

In cooperation with AEON Co., Ltd and other related organizations, FIDR will try our best to support their dream.

Discussion with coffee farmers

Thai lady showed her Pieu Scaft Symbol of this area (Thai people is one of the ethnic minority groups which is the majority tribe in Son La Province).