Coffee Prices Near Triple Last Year’s Levels
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In the 2024 harvest season, coffee prices have surged to nearly three times last year’s levels, bringing both excitement and anxiety to farmers across Lâm Đồng Province. As pickers move into the fields, concerns over theft are rising sharply.
Di Linh: 46,400 ha of Coffee, High Demand for Seasonal Labor
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Coffee area: about 46,400 ha, producing roughly 150,000 tons per year.
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Labor needs: an additional 6,000–7,000 workers are required—beyond the 85 % of labor available locally—for the 2.5-month harvest.
Vũ Hồng Long, head of the Di Linh Agriculture and Rural Development Office, warned that high prices increase the risk of theft. The district is reviewing labor demand and organizing patrols and crop-protection forces, focusing on remote production areas.
Police Intensify Night Patrols and Community Watch
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Di Linh District Police have urged village-level community watch teams to monitor seasonal workers and report suspicious activity promptly.
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Local police are stepping up night patrols, reminding large farms to register temporary workers and keep close tabs on all laborers.
Farmers Step Up Self-Protection
In Lâm Hà District, growers are installing night surveillance cameras and conducting frequent field checks. Many coffee plantations are far from residential areas and border forest land, creating opportunities for thieves who often cut whole branches and escape quickly.
Farmer Trần Văn Hòa from Đạ Đờn Commune explained:
“With prices this high, if we don’t increase patrols—especially at night—it’s very easy for thieves to break in and pick cherries.”
To deter theft, Hòa and neighbors have formed self-managed security groups with police support.
3.5-Month High-Security Campaign
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Lâm Đồng provincial police launched a 3.5-month high-security campaign from November 1, 2024, to February 14, 2025.
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Lieutenant Colonel Trần Xuân Khởi (Đạ Đờn Commune Police) said the force is coordinating with local volunteers to maintain 24/7 surveillance.
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Lieutenant Colonel Nguyễn Thế Anh (Lâm Hà District Police) emphasized that public security is more complex this year because of soaring coffee prices.
A Vital Sector for the Province
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Coffee area: over 170,000 ha, second only to Đắk Lắk.
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Annual output: more than 600,000 tons.
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Economic role: coffee accounts for about 60 % of Lâm Đồng’s agricultural economy and generates hundreds of thousands of jobs, with harvest-season labor demand up 7–10 times.
With coffee prices at record highs, Lâm Đồng Province is deploying unprecedented security measures—from community patrols to a province-wide police campaign—to protect farmers’ crops, ensure safe harvesting, and safeguard the backbone of its agricultural economy.