Unlike previous years, in early 2013 the Central Highlands experienced unexpected rain and a noticeable cold spell caused by a northern cold front combined with tropical storm No. 1 over the East Sea. Although the rainfall was light and uneven—averaging only 30–40 mm—it was enough to disrupt the normal growth and physiological patterns of plants that had long adapted to the typically dry season.
Unusual Weather Patterns
In addition to these unseasonal showers, the Central Highlands—especially Đăk Lăk Province—was facing drought. Annual rainfall was about 30 % lower than the long-term average, particularly in the eastern districts such as Lăk, Ea Kar, and M’Đrăk. Reservoirs there are small and only store water for a single year, which increases the risk of severe drought. Moreover, though sparse, scattered rains persisted not just in recent days but since December.
Beyond weather issues, the 2013 coffee and pepper crop year also showed distinctive features. The previous coffee season (2012) had been a poor harvest with yields down about 30 %. Because of that low yield, many coffee plantations were not exhausted and still retained healthy foliage. However, with intermittent drought and high humidity, mealybugs and fungal diseases such as coffee leaf rust and pink disease became common.
Pepper, meanwhile, continued to fetch high prices in 2012, encouraging farmers to expand plantings—even on land not recommended for pepper. High prices also led to excessive care, including overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, raising the risk of pest and disease outbreaks.
Coffee Care
Given these conditions, coffee farmers needed to adjust their management strategies to local microclimates and the condition of each plantation. For example, the unusual weather caused little damage in areas such as Cư M’Gar and Buôn Hồ but more serious problems in Ea Kar and Krông Păk.
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Irrigation: Because scattered rains caused some trees to flower early, some growers chose to irrigate to preserve these early blossoms, while others deliberately avoided irrigation so that the first flush of flowers would drop and the main bloom would be more uniform. On gravelly soils prone to drying, irrigation immediately after rain was essential to ensure sufficient moisture for flowering, regardless of previous rain. On deep basalt soils, irrigation could be delayed 4–5 days after the rain, accepting a two-stage flowering, but not delayed any longer.
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Controlling pests and rust: Normally mealybug control is carried out right after pruning at harvest or during the first irrigation. This year, with trees still carrying strong foliage after harvest, treatment was often delayed. Sprays for mealybugs and coffee leaf rust should be applied at least five days before flowering or ten days after—not during the bloom.
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Fertilizing: To achieve yields of 3–4 tons/ha, apply 500–600 g of dry-season NPK fertilizer per tree over the four dry months, split into two applications. If the trees still have vigorous foliage after harvest, apply 200 g per tree in the first round and 300 g in the second. Plantations that yielded heavily the previous year need 300 g per tree each round. Organic fertilizers should be reserved for the start of the rainy season.
Pepper Care
The main threat to pepper is root-fungus diseases that cause the vines to “die quickly” or “die slowly.” These are not sudden deaths: fungal spores infect the roots, multiply, and eventually block the vascular tissues (especially at the root–stem junction), preventing water uptake and causing the plant to die. Three priorities are essential:
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Ensure good drainage: Spores of the pathogens spread through water, so pepper gardens must be well drained, with trenches between rows and large perimeter ditches to carry water away.
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Prioritize organic fertilizer: Even when budgets are tight, farmers should not skip organic manure. Each vine should receive 10–15 kg of well-decomposed organic fertilizer per year.
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Split inorganic fertilizer into multiple small doses: To supplement nutrients beyond what organic fertilizer can provide, apply chemical fertilizers in smaller, more frequent doses. For newly planted pepper, apply 50 g per vine twice a month. For mature pepper in production, apply 4–5 times per year—about once a month—never more than 300 g at a time. During periods of nutrient stress, also supply foliar fertilizers.
By adapting irrigation, fertilization, and pest-control practices to these unusual weather conditions, farmers can help both coffee and pepper plants maintain productivity and recover from the stresses of a variable climate.