According to the Plant Protection Sub-Department of Lam Dong’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, out of roughly 42,000 hectares of coffee in Di Linh District, more than 500 hectares are suffering serious damage: flower clusters have turned black, and young berries are withering and dropping. Estimated losses range from about 40 to 60 percent.
The main causes were unfavorable weather conditions during the coffee flowering period, which disrupted pollination, and a shortage of irrigation water; many trees dried out and the blossoms shriveled and blackened soon after blooming. In addition, mealybugs attached to the fruit stems have caused the berries to dry up and fall.
In response, the Lam Dong Plant Protection Sub-Department has advised growers to prune diseased and aging branches and remove excessive shoots so the trees can focus their energy on fruit development, boosting resistance to pests and helping limit the spread of disease.