Ethnic Minority Farmers in Vietnam Reap Economic and Environmental Benefits with IPM Adoption

The Ede people, an ethnic minority in Vietnam's Central Highlands, live in distinctive longhouses, raised on stilts, that accommodate extended families. Their culture is rooted in animism, with a deep connection to nature and agriculture, and they celebrate numerous rituals and festivals tied to the farming calendar. Today, the Ede have integrated modern agricultural practices, including coffee cultivation, while preserving their unique traditions and crafts.

Mr. Y Blul lives in Pour village, Hoa Dong commune, Krong Pac district, Daklak, Vietnam. He is a hardworking Ede man and is highly trusted by the people in the village, holding the position of Head of the Buon (village) in Pour. Since 1996, his family has been growing coffee intercropped with a variety of fruits and spices including pepper, durian, avocado, jackfruit, pineapple, clove, ginger, turmeric, and forest trees.

Mr. Y Blul’s farm achieved Rainforest Alliance Certification in 2010, and he was elected to lead the Buon Pour Sustainable Coffee Production Club, managed by the coffee company Dakman, LLC. In March 2023, Mr. Y Blul’s coffee farm was selected to partake in Rainforest Alliance’s Integrated Pest Management (IPM) project, designed and implemented in collaboration with the Global Alliance on Health and Pollution (GAHP), and funded by the UK Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Through this project, farmers are taught to implement IPM methods such as protecting natural pest enemies, proper pruning, pest monitoring and management, and boosting soil quality by maintaining plant cover, planting shade trees, applying balanced fertilizer, and mulching with leaves and weeds.

Prior to implementing IPM on his farm, Mr. Y Blul had limited knowledge of IPM techniques and was unsure where to learn more about IPM. The quality and productivity of his coffee were struggling due to oor quality compacted soil, unbalanced fertilization, and improper crop density. During implementation of the IPM project in 2023-2024, Mr. Y Blul received technical support on IPM implementation, guidance on proper composting and fertilizing methods, and learned best practices for limiting human and environmental impacts of pesticides.

Mr. Y Blul and other tribe members were dressed in traditional Ede attire, showcasing their vibrant cultural heritage. Image by Rainforest Alliance, 2024.

Mr. Y Blul also participated in train-the-trainer workshops to learn more about maintaining ecosystem health, managing weeds and pests, and boosting soil quality and fertility. His inquisitiveness and active participation led him to master these topics, which he applied in his own coffee garden with help from Dakman’s technical team.

Nine months after beginning IPM implementation in his coffee garden, his farm was chosen as a demonstration site for other farmers to learn more about successfully applying these practices. The purpose of these model farms is to share knowledge about IPM implementation through practical experience, demonstrating that IPM techniques can be adopted by all coffee farmers, including Ede farmers.

Now, Mr. Y Blul has been practicing IPM for 18 months with support from Dakman’s technical consultants and is already seeing great improvements in the quality and productivity of his coffee. He has planted new coffee seedlings to replace diseased ones, applies proper fertilization, and keeps trees pruned to control shade cover. He regularly monitors for pests in his garden and does not spray pesticides until a threshold level of infestation has been reached. He has also planted stylo grass as soil cover, and leaves grass and leaves on the ground in between coffee plants to protect the soil. These practices have improved the quality of his soil and have led to an increase in earthworm density.

Mrs. Lan Hoa (right, IPM expert) instructs Mr Y Blul and his wife on how to propagate stylo grass for soil cover. Image by Rainforest Alliance, 2024.

Mr Cuong (right, Dakman's technical staff and Mr Y Blul are standing next to the forest tree, after 1,5 year planting.

Based on these positive results, Mr. Y Blul is confident that implementing IPM is a simple, effective method of boosting the health of coffee garden ecosystems and continues to spread his knowledge among Ede people in Pour village and beyond.