The People’s Committee of Đắk Lắk Province has issued a new regulation prohibiting the picking and trading of unripe (green) coffee cherries. Under the rule, after harvest at least 95% of cherries must be fully ripe. While the policy aims to improve the quality and market value of Vietnamese coffee, farmers and traders say compliance is difficult.
Farmers Struggle with 95% Ripe Requirement
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Rising Labor Costs and Multiple Flowering Waves
Mr. Q., a farmer in Ea Knuếch Commune, Krông Păk District, heard the directive on the commune’s loudspeaker. He understands that a higher percentage of ripe cherries commands a better price, but costs outweigh the benefits.
His family manages 1 hectare of coffee under contract with a coffee company requiring 95–98% ripe cherries.
“Coffee trees flower and set fruit in multiple waves. If we wait until 100% of the cherries are fully ripe, we would have to harvest many times,” he explained.
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Early-season labor costs: 80,000–90,000 VND/person/day
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Peak-season costs: up to 120,000 VND/person/day
With yields typically 80–90% ripe cherries, meeting the 95% rule is simply not profitable.
Market Practices Undermine the Rule
At fresh-coffee buying points in Ea Kênh Commune (Krông Păk) and Krông Năng town:
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Deep-red cherries fetch 7,500–8,000 VND/kg.
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Dealers still buy coffee with a high percentage of green cherries at only a slightly lower price.
Afterward, cherries are mixed and pulped together, making it nearly impossible to distinguish ripe from unripe beans.
One dealer explained that many farmers pick unripe cherries because their plots are far from home and they fear theft.
Provincial Response and Enforcement Challenges
Government Initiatives
According to Nguyễn Văn Sinh, Deputy Director of the Đắk Lắk Department of Agriculture and Rural Development:
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The department is helping coffee businesses establish raw-material zones to improve farming techniques and offer incentives for quality bean supply.
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It has also coordinated with key coffee areas to form self-managed farmer patrol groups to prevent theft and monitor harvesting practices.
Obstacles to Effective Control
Despite these efforts, enforcement remains difficult:
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Đắk Lắk has over 190,000 hectares of coffee, but only 20,000 hectares belong to large commercial enterprises capable of enforcing quality standards.
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The remaining 180,500 hectares are owned by smallholder households, scattered and fragmented.
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Farmer patrol groups are unpaid and lack binding obligations.
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For fresh-coffee dealers, there is no legal mechanism to penalize the purchase of unripe cherries.
Conclusion
Đắk Lắk’s 95% ripe cherry rule highlights the tension between quality improvement and practical realities in Vietnam’s coffee industry. While the policy aims to boost coffee quality and enhance the province’s global reputation, smallholders face financial and logistical hurdles. Without stronger market incentives and enforcement mechanisms, the goal of reducing the harvest and trade of green cherries will remain difficult to achieve.