ACOM & SMS combat climate change in Vietnam

Article by: Michaela Tomchek

Research has revealed that climate change will significantly impact agricultural production, especially the delicate regions where coffee grows. Increased temperatures and altered precipitation patterns will lead to decreased yields and quality. In Vietnam, slight shifts in climate have already begun to impact production.

Temperatures are predicted to continue increasing within the country, leading to a rise in evapotranspiration: the evaporation from moisture in soil and groundwater resources. Consequently, crops such as coffee will require more irrigation or external water inputs. In addition to higher temperatures, there will also be an increase in rain fall, which can adversely impact the flowering season of coffee. This warmer and moister environment make it easier for diseases to spread and thrive. With these shifts in climate, coffee yields are predicted to decrease. With heavier, more frequent rain fall, it will be more difficult to dry the coffee properly and evenly, meaning overall quality will be impacted during post-harvest.

With these projections, adaptation and mitigation measures must be enforced in order to maintain production. ACOM and SMS have begun implementing various initiatives to assist farmers with preparing for these changes. According to Thuận Sarzynski, SMS Manager in Vietnam, there are various plans being put into place, including agroforestry training, crop insurance, and a loan program for irrigation.

SMS are also training farmers to plant fruit trees to, firstly, provide coffee plants with a cooler environment under the shade of fruit trees, and secondly, to give farmers an additional source of income. This is known as agroforestry, an adaptation and mitigation method to climate change, which typically combines food crops, such as coffee, with perennial tree crops, such as banana or other native trees. Soil health also benefits from agroforestry with a more biodiverse ecosystem and root structures to prevent soil erosion or nutrient depletion. 

Additionally, SMS is assisting farmers by connecting them to insurance companies to help insure their crops for when there is a climate disaster. Loans are also provided to producers by SMS with the support of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to acquire Netafim irrigation systems. These systems will help provide water in times of drought or in dryer areas where soils need more moisture. With this support, producers are able to be more prepared in times when there is less rainfall. 

Considerable research focused on varietal trials is being conducted to understand which coffee plants fare best in different conditions under the Breedcafs program. Additionally, the BOLERO project is working on grafting to assess different root stocks and how they react to different climate conditions. Other SMS initiatives are focusing on insurance and researching CBB impacts.

SMS is also offering training to farmers with a focus on climate change to educate them about the impacts and the methods of adaptation. They specifically focus on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and project activities. These training sessions are offered 1-2 times a year for producers to learn more from the SMS agronomists. 

Looking towards the future, SMS are constantly regulating and modelling climate changes, with a research team looking at weather patterns to predict future yields in the long term and short term (2-3 months). These data and predicted temperatures allow SMS to be better equipped to prepare producers with adaptation methods. 

With projections revealing an imminent increase in temperatures and alterations in precipitation patterns, the initiatives and projects put in place by SMS are vital for the health and stability of coffee in Vietnam.