Rainy Season Brings Relief from Drought—But New Threat Emerges
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At the start of the 2025 coffee season, Gia Lai Province growers feared a harsh drought. Ample rainfall calmed those worries, yet just as the Đak Đoa District harvest approaches, a new crisis has left farmers sleepless: a massive cicada infestation.
20% of Coffee Area Infested
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Survey findings: About 20% of Nam Yang Commune’s 1,300 hectares of coffee now show yellowing leaves, drying branches, and fruit drop.
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Inspectors discovered dozens of cicada larvae feeding at the roots of each coffee tree.
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Long-term damage: Larvae attack root systems, weakening plants and making them vulnerable to disease for years.
Chairman Nguyễn Công Bình of the Nam Yang Farmers’ Association confirmed the outbreak and warned of serious production losses.
Farmers Report Heavy Yield Losses
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Nguyễn Văn Hải’s 2-hectare plot could lose up to 80% of its coffee yield.
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Neighbor Nguyễn Văn Thanh found nearly 100 cicada larvae per tree, expecting to lose more than two tons of beans this season.
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Thanh, a 10-year coffee veteran, says this is the first outbreak of this scale he has witnessed.
Causes Behind the Cicada Explosion
A seasoned grower with over 20 years’ experience explained:
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Cicadas thrive in tall windbreak trees commonly planted in coffee gardens.
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Normally, ant populations feed on cicada eggs, keeping the pest in check.
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But many farmers exterminated ants to simplify coffee harvesting, removing the cicadas’ natural predator and triggering rapid population growth.
Limited Control Measures and Urgent Calls for Action
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Farmers have tried biological treatments mixed with lime, but results have been poor.
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Local authorities have reported the outbreak to the district plant protection office for urgent technical guidance.
Experts caution that while controlling ants can ease harvesting, completely eradicating them disrupts the ecosystem, giving cicadas a chance to multiply uncontrollably.
Key Takeaway: Gia Lai’s coffee sector—initially relieved by a wet season—is now battling an unprecedented cicada epidemic that threatens yields, long-term plant health, and farmer livelihoods.