Promoting Public-Private Partnership: Solutions to Improve Plant Health in Intercropped Coffee-Pepper Plantations

On the morning of March 6, 2025, in Buon Ma Thuot city, Dak Lak province, the Workshop "Promoting Public-Private Partnership: Solutions to Improve Plant Health in Intercropped Coffee-Pepper Plantations" took place. Organized by the PPP Task Force on Agro-Chemicals under the Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture in Viet Nam (PSAV), the event attracted the participation of more than 100 delegates from agencies under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, enterprises, institutes/schools/research centers, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and coffee and pepper farmers in Dak Lak province.

The workshop aimed to update the requirements of the import market for coffee and pepper, propose solutions to improve productivity and plant health in a sustainable manner, while promoting the agroforestry model and effectively managing land and water resources in coffee cultivation intercropped with pepper.

In his opening speech, Mr. To Viet Chau, Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation – Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, emphasized the important role of coffee and pepper in Viet Nam's agricultural economy. In 2024, Viet Nam's coffee exports reached a record of 5.6 billion USD, an increase of 32.5% compared to 2023. Pepper export turnover reached 1.318 billion USD, although down 5.1% in volume, but up 45.4% in value compared to the previous year. Notably, Dak Lak is the province with the largest coffee area and output in the country, accounting for about 40% of the area, playing an important role in the local economic structure.

The coffee-pepper intercropping model has been widely applied, helping to optimize land area, increase income for farmers, and improve biodiversity. However, plant health management still faces many limitations, especially in integrated pest management (IPM), rational use of pesticides, and balanced plant nutrition.

The workshop served as an opportunity for experts, businesses, and farmers to discuss, share experiences, and propose solutions to improve plant health, towards sustainable development. Representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment expressed their gratitude to Corteva Agriscience Company, GlobalGiving , and Grow Asia for their support and companionship in the coffee and pepper industry in recent years. The Ministry is committed to continuing close coordination with partners to sustainably develop the coffee and pepper industry in particular and the agricultural industry in general.

The workshop was a success, creating an important premise for the replication of effective solutions in coffee cultivation intercropped with pepper, contributing to increasing added value and income for farmers while protecting the agricultural ecosystem.