Since early July, major coffee-growing districts in Đắk Nông Province—including Đắk Mil, Đắk Song, Đắk R’lấp, and Krông Nô—have been struck by a troubling phenomenon: coffee trees that appear lush and healthy are shedding their fruit en masse. This large-scale fruit drop is raising alarm across the region and threatening the upcoming 2011–2012 harvest.
Widespread Losses in Key Districts
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Đắk Mil Hit Hardest
In key communes such as Đức Minh, Đức Mạnh, Đắk Sak, and Thuận An, farmers report 35–40% of coffee cherries dropping prematurely, leaving thousands of households anxious about heavy crop losses.
Farmers Scramble for Solutions
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Many growers have rushed to buy pesticides and fungicides to combat mealybugs and other pests, but fruit-drop rates have barely slowed.
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The crisis is particularly severe because the cherries are already well developed, with less than three months to harvest.
Farmers’ Voices of Concern
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Nguyễn Bảo Hải (Đức Minh): After last year’s drought, his 2.5 hectares of coffee were loaded with fruit and he expected yields of 5 tons of green beans per hectare. Yet in two weeks, up to 40% of cherries have fallen.
“In other years some fruit would drop at this time, but never like this. I sprayed several crop-protection chemicals, especially against mealybugs, but improvement is negligible. My family is very worried,” he said.
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Nguyễn Công Quảng (Đức Mạnh): Has seen cherries turn yellow and drop in masses over the past ten days, with 35–40% loss on many trees.
“Every rainstorm is followed by another wave of fruit drop. We desperately need scientists and agricultural experts to find the cause and solution before we suffer heavy losses.”
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Trần Văn Bình (Đắk Sak): Hired workers to spray 4 hectares against mealybugs, but with little effect.
“This year has been disastrous. Early-season drought dried up irrigation water, weakening the trees. Now continuous rains have triggered fruit-drop disease. Fertilizer and pesticide prices have soared and many of us can’t afford adequate inputs.”
Identified Causes
According to the Đắk Mil Farmers’ Association, several factors may be driving the crisis:
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Reduced Fertilizer Use: High fertilizer prices have forced many farmers to cut back on applications, leaving trees undernourished.
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Mealybug Infestations: Recent increases in mealybugs have contributed to widespread fruit loss.
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Unusual Weather Patterns: An unusually wet and cloudy rainy season has created high humidity and low light, conditions that can cause the fruit stem (peduncle) to rot and drop.
Economic Impact
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Đắk Mil, the province’s top coffee-producing district, has over 18,000 hectares of coffee.
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Average yields are 2.3–2.8 tons/ha, with well-managed farms reaching 4–5 tons/ha.
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With 35–40% of cherries lost, the region faces serious yield and income reductions for the 2011–2012 season.
Emergency Measures
The Đắk Nông Plant Protection Department has instructed local plant-protection stations to investigate and recommend control measures. For now, farmers are advised to:
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Prune and thin branches to increase light penetration.
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Apply balanced chemical fertilizers to restore nutrient supply.
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Spray fungicides and insecticides to prevent pink disease fungi and control mealybugs.
These short-term steps aim to reduce further losses and protect the province’s critical coffee crop while experts work to identify long-term solutions.
The massive fruit drop in Đắk Nông Province threatens both local livelihoods and the region’s coffee output. Without swift scientific and technical interventions, the province risks significant economic damage and a sharp decline in coffee production for the upcoming harvest.