The Path To Sustainability Among Vietnam's Smallholder Coffee Farms – CoffeeTalk

In the heart of Viet Nam’s coffee-growing region, smallholder farmers are learning through programs led by the ILO and Nestlé, how protecting their own health and safety is key to ensuring a sustainable future. The couple, Van Thi My Dung and Do Ngoc Anh, have been working tirelessly to cultivate one of the world’s most beloved crops, coffee, for decades. Their farm, nestled in the lush highlands of Buon Ma Thuot, spans over 10 hectares and features a patchwork of vibrant green coffee and pepper plants as intercropping, adding diversity to their farm and helping optimize the use of their land.

The couple shares how their early years were marked by blistered hands, aching shoulders, and a lack of modern equipment or knowledge. They faced numerous challenges, including threats to their health and safety due to the steep terrain, making it impossible to use machinery for harvesting or transport. In the past, they had to carry heavy bags of coffee on their shoulders after picking, which was exhausting and dangerous.

Nestlé’s training sessions have been invaluable to Dung and Ngoc Anh, boosting their productivity and coffee quality. Starting with only knowledge passed down from predecessors, the couple was initially unsure of how to improve their farming methods to meet high standards and ensure safety. Everything changed in 2014 when they joined the Nescafé Plan Program, which equipped them with sustainable cultivation such as balance fertilizer applied, pest and disease management, savings water, and soil conservation, leading to better yields and higher quality.

As their coffee-growing journey progressed, they also became aware of the importance of ensuring their own safety and health while working on the coffee farm. This focus on safety has attracted attention from European coffee importers. Like Dung and Ngoc Anh, many farm owners in Nestlé’s network received training on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH). These trainings, part of the ILO Vision Zero Fund and Nestlé partnership, help farmers identify risks and implement cost-effective safety measures, guided by the WIND training manual.

After joining the training program by the ILO and Nestlé, Dung and Ngoc Anh went a step further by sharing the WIND training with other farmers in the Nestlé system. Using leaflets and booklets from the ILO and Nestlé, they organized mini training sessions to show people the advantages of ensuring health and safety at work.

In addition to enhancing Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), the partnership programme between the ILO and Nestlé is dedicated to equipping farmers with the knowledge and practices necessary for productive and sustainable coffee production in Viet Nam. By strongly emphasizing the creation of decent working conditions in line with the ILO’s Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (FPRW), the programme supports farmers to be able to work in safe, fair, and dignified environments. With the ILO’s technical expertise and Nestlé’s commitment, coffee farmers can develop safer, more efficient farms. This collaboration exemplifies how strategic partnerships can lead to significant improvements in agricultural practices, fostering a brighter, more sustainable future for Viet Nam’s coffee industry.

Read More @ ILO