In Cư M’Gar District—one of Đắk Lắk Province’s key coffee-growing regions—many farmers are boldly cutting down thousands of hectares of aging Robusta coffee and using regrown shoots to graft selected clonal varieties. This innovative approach is delivering impressive economic returns and offering a model for sustainable coffee production.
Case Study: Ama Nghé’s Successful Coffee Garden Renewal
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From Declining Yields to Record Income
Farmer Ama Nghé, from Ea Tur Commune, provides a prime example of this successful method. After cutting down 1 hectare of old coffee trees, he:
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Selected vigorous regrowth shoots
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Top-grafted with improved Robusta clones such as TR4 and TR5, developed by the Western Highlands Agriculture and Forestry Science Institute (WASI)
Result: His annual income now exceeds 100 million VND.
Background and Motivation
Despite careful management—proper irrigation, balanced fertilization, and good technical care—after more than 20 years of production his coffee yield had fallen:
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From 2 tons to 1.5 tons of green coffee per hectare
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In some years, only 1 ton per hectare
Following training and technical guidance from the district agricultural extension center and WASI, Ama Nghé decided to cut all the old trees, select the strongest regrowth shoots, and perform top grafting with improved Robusta clones.
Technical Approach and Grafting Success
To achieve a graft survival rate above 98%, Ama Nghé:
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Used relatively young rootstocks
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Selected scion shoots carrying just one pair of leaves
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Applied intensive cultivation techniques
Economic Outcome:
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Within two years, the rejuvenated coffee garden was back in production, yielding 3 tons of green coffee per hectare in the first year.
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From the fourth year onward, yields stabilized at 4 tons or more per hectare.
This method of complete cutting, selecting regrowth shoots, and top grafting:
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Shortens the establishment period by 1–2 years compared to replanting from scratch.
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Costs far less than traditional replanting.
Regional Impact and WASI’s Role
According to WASI, the Central Highlands now have over 100,000 hectares of coffee past its productive cycle, including more than 50,000 hectares in Đắk Lắk alone, all in urgent need of rejuvenation or replanting.
Recommended Strategy
Cutting down old coffee trees and grafting vigorous regrowth shoots with selected Robusta clones is recognized as the optimal, high-return method for coffee replanting and should be expanded across the region.
Support and Resources
Beyond providing technical guidance to key coffee areas in Đắk Lắk and Lâm Đồng, WASI has:
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Invested in a 5-hectare scion garden of selected Robusta clones
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Established scion nurseries to supply high-quality grafting material for localities undertaking coffee rehabilitation.
Conclusion
The grafting of regrown shoots is emerging as a cost-effective, high-yield strategy for Robusta coffee rejuvenation in Vietnam’s Central Highlands. By shortening the production cycle, cutting costs, and boosting yields, this technique provides a sustainable path for coffee growers and supports the long-term health of the country’s coffee industry.