Coffee takes root, opens a path out of poverty

Guiding us through coffee gardens winding along the hillsides, Lầu A Tú, Head of Chế Á village, said coffee first took root in Quài Tở more than a decade ago, when a few pioneering households brought seedlings from Mường Ảng to plant on a trial basis. At the time, few could have imagined that this crop would become a long term livelihood and transform an entire community.

In the early days, limited farming experience and volatile prices led some households to consider uprooting the trees in favor of other crops. However, thanks to persistent advocacy and guidance from local authorities, farmers chose to keep their coffee trees, gradually learning how to care for and improve their plantations.

From just a few thousand square meters initially, Chế Á village now has 76 households cultivating more than 200 hectares of coffee, forming a large scale concentrated production area. A typical example is the family of Vừ A Dơ, who owns about 5 hectares of coffee, with over 4 hectares already in harvest.

“In the 2025 coffee season alone, my family harvested around 20 tons of fresh cherries. With prices ranging from VND 27,000 to VND 30,000 per kilogram, we earned over VND 500 million, with profits exceeding VND 300 million. Coffee has significantly improved our living standards,” Dơ said.

That sense of joy is shared not only by one household but by the entire village and commune, where coffee is reshaping livelihoods. More encouragingly, in November 2025, around 40,200 Catimor Arabica coffee trees grown on nearly 11.5 hectares in Hua Sa A, Hua Sa B and Chế Á villages were officially recognized as elite mother trees. This recognition not only improves the quality of coffee varieties for the commune and the province but also opens up opportunities for production, processing and the development of a local coffee brand, adding economic value and promoting sustainable growth.

“With these recognized mother trees, villagers can propagate seedlings or sell seeds at higher prices,” Tú added.

Toward efficiency and sustainability

It is no coincidence that coffee thrives in Quài Tở. Located at an ideal altitude, with a cool climate year-round and fertile soil, the area offers perfect conditions for producing beans with distinctive flavor. After more than a decade of dedication and care, local farmers are now reaping the rewards.

Recognizing this potential, farmers have gradually shifted from spontaneous cultivation to more organized, market-oriented production. A clear example is the establishment of the Pha Đin Coffee Cooperative in early 2024. From an initial seven members, it has grown to 15, serving as a vital link between growers and the market.

Sùng A Dia, Director of the cooperative, said: “Alongside investing in processing machinery, we guide farmers to follow organic production processes and strictly control quality from planting and care to harvesting. With consistent quality, Quài Tở coffee not only commands higher prices but is also gradually building its position in the market.”

At the same time, local authorities are accelerating agricultural restructuring toward sustainability. In late 2025 and early 2026, with the involvement of the entire political system and strong public support, Quài Tở registered nearly 500 hectares of new coffee plantations, bringing the total area to more than 1,600 hectares. These figures reflect not only expansion in scale but also a strong commitment to building a concentrated commodity production zone. Economic growth goes hand in hand with environmental protection, increasing forest coverage and moving toward a green, sustainable agricultural model.

Giàng A Dế, Secretary of the Quài Tở Party Committee, said Resolution No. 12 on restructuring agriculture toward concentrated, linked and sustainable production for 2026-2030, with a vision to 2035, sets targets of 2,600 hectares of coffee and 2,000 hectares of macadamia trees. These crops not only help protect the ecological environment but also create sustainable livelihoods and raise incomes, contributing to the goal of achieving new rural standards by 2030.

In early April, alongside many localities in the province, Quài Tở mobilized more than 2,300 participants - over 2,000 of them local residents - to take part in a launch ceremony for planting coffee and macadamia trees and piloting a low altitude economic development model for 2026. Amid the highland sun and wind, the lively sounds of conversation mixed with the rhythm of hoes and shovels created a vibrant working atmosphere. This was not only the beginning of new plantations but also a clear sign of changing production mindsets among local people.

From humble coffee saplings in the past, Quài Tở is now steadily writing its own story of transformation. The red hues of ripe coffee cherries are not only the color of prosperity but also a symbol of confidence and hope for a sustainable future in this highland region.