Over-Fertilization and Outdated Harvesting Practices
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Đắk Song District currently has more than 17,000 hectares of coffee, but years of chasing higher yields have led to imbalanced farming practices:
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Fertilizer use 10–23% higher than recommended, with unbalanced chemical applications.
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Indiscriminate pesticide spraying, harming both environment and crop health.
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Poor harvesting methods, where farmers pick both green and ripe cherries, reducing bean quality and lowering market value.
These challenges pushed local authorities and coffee companies to search for a more sustainable solution.
Nestlé Vietnam Introduces 4C Sustainable Coffee Program
In late 2009, Nestlé Vietnam partnered with local agricultural agencies to launch a sustainable coffee initiative based on the international 4C Code of Conduct. This global standard covers three pillars:
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Social: Improve farmer livelihoods and community well-being.
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Environmental: Reduce chemical waste, protect soil and water resources.
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Economic: Ensure long-term profitability and coffee market competitiveness.
Key Actions Taken
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Establishing demonstration plots to showcase best practices.
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Conducting farmer training sessions on balanced fertilization, water-saving irrigation, and proper harvesting.
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Promoting public awareness to expand farmer participation.
Strong Results: Higher Yields, Lower Costs
The program quickly proved its value. Farmers following 4C guidelines achieved:
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Reduced production costs by cutting excess fertilizer, chemicals, and irrigation.
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Improved coffee bean quality, raising market competitiveness.
Farmers’ Success Stories
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Nguyễn Văn Lãng (Hamlet 8, Nam Bình):
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Before 4C: 1.5–2 tons of coffee per hectare.
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After joining: nearly 4 tons per hectare in the latest harvest.
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Nguyễn Văn Dũng (neighbor of Lãng):
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Learned to master all key techniques—fertilizing, watering, pruning, and shaping the canopy.
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Lower costs than traditional farming.
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Uses coffee husks to produce organic fertilizer, cutting chemical fertilizer costs and reducing environmental pollution.
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Economic Incentives and Growing Participation
According to Hoàng Phong Co. Ltd., Nestlé’s coffee buying agent in Đắk Song:
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Farmers producing 4C-certified coffee receive an extra 200 VND per kilogram on top of market prices.
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More than 450 households managing over 1,000 hectares are already certified.
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Around 1,000 additional households have registered to join.
Farmers are enthusiastic about the economic benefits and the chance to protect the environment while ensuring long-term sustainability for their coffee crop.
The Nestlé 4C sustainable coffee program is helping Đắk Song farmers:
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Increase yields and profits,
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Protect natural resources, and
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Strengthen Vietnam’s coffee competitiveness in the global market.
This model demonstrates that sustainable agriculture can drive both economic growth and environmental stewardship in Vietnam’s Central Highlands.