The right direction in restructuring the crop sector

From 2023 to 2025, Son La province clearly defines the orientation: Bringing the value of coffee production to account for 6-8% of the total value of the crop sector. At the same time, the province sets a goal of replanting 8,000 hectares of coffee, developing 3,900 hectares of specialty coffee, and striving to export 25,000 tons of coffee beans each year.

To realize this goal, the Provincial People's Committee directs the Department of Agriculture to closely coordinate with districts and the city to promote training and transfer of techniques to farmers; at the same time, guide the replanting of old coffee areas with high-yield and high-quality varieties such as THA1, TN1, TN2, TN6, TN7. That is a crucial step to ensure the quality of output coffee, meeting the strict demands of the export market.

Production linkage - The foundation for building a sustainable brand

The bright spot in the development of Son La coffee comes from the participation of large enterprises in the production linkage chain. In Mai Son district, three typical enterprises - Son La Coffee Processing Joint Stock Company, Phuc Sinh Son La Joint Stock Company, and Minh Tien Group Joint Stock Company - Son La Branch have linked with more than 2,000 households on 1,583 hectares. These models are according to organic standards, 4C, RA, and especially the European deforestation-free standards - a key factor helping Son La Coffee penetrate and stand firm in high-end markets.

Son La Coffee Processing Factory.

Currently, the province has over 19,100 hectares of coffee certified for sustainable production, such as RA, 4C, and VietGAP, and more than 1,120 hectares of coffee developed in the specialty direction. These certifications are a "passport" to bring Son La coffee to the international market and the foundation for building a sustainable agricultural product brand associated with environmental and social responsibility.

Deep Processing - A Strategic Step in Increasing Added Value

Not stopping at raw material production, Son La has boldly invested in deep processing - A strategic step to increase the value of coffee beans. A typical example is the Coffee Processing Factory invested by Son La Coffee Processing Joint Stock Company, a scale of nearly 4.1 hectares and a capacity to process 50,000 tons of fresh coffee beans annually.

The factory has positioned a modern production line with water-saving wet milling technology and a closed dry milling line that does not generate dust. The production process is to be environmentally friendly, meeting green and sustainable agricultural standards. Key products such as roasted and ground coffee, instant coffee, filter bag coffee, etc. have been present in many demanding markets such as Europe, North America, and Japan, contributing to bringing the export value of Sn La coffee to nearly 100 million USD.

Protecting and developing geographical indications - A pedestal for the Son La coffee brand

The geographical indication “Son La Coffee” has now been granted to 7 companies, enterprises, and cooperatives. It is a vital tool to control quality, protect product reputation, and support brand promotion in the international market. With two specialty coffee production areas of 1,000 hectares in the Mai Son district, more than 1,560 households have participated in the production-processing-consumption chain, contributing to increasing income and creating stable jobs for over 18,000 coffee-growing households in the province.

Maintaining the brand - The key is quality and sustainable development

In the context of increasingly fierce competition in the global coffee market, maintaining the Son La coffee brand does not only depend on output but, importantly keeping stable quality, ensuring environmental and social sustainability.

Son La is on the right track by focusing on synchronous solutions based on planning raw material areas, improving seed quality, applying international standards in production, and closely linking farmer-business-management agencies to investing in deep processing and building geographical indication brands.

From a land that few people once thought of when mentioning coffee, Son La is rising to become the center of high-quality Arabica coffee production in Vietnam, conquering the most demanding markets - one vivid proof of the strategic vision and tireless efforts of the people and local authorities, etc.

Tuan Quoc

Translated by Tuan Minh Dang