COFFEE farmers in Vietnam, the world’s largest producer of robusta coffee, have sharply increased the use of irrigation in the main producing regions of the country amid excessive dryness, but they are now running low on water, a report said.
So far this season, many farmers have used irrigation as many as seven times already, compared with the usual five times in a normal season, and they are seeing the need to irrigate coffee trees for an eighth time if they have water, said J. Ganes Consulting in notes from a crop tour in Vietnam.
“The severe water deficiency and extreme temperatures have caused nutrient imbalances for the trees,” said soft commodities analyst Judith Ganes, president of J. Ganes Consulting, adding that wells used to get water for irrigation are running low.
The report says that the hot and dry environment has favoured the spread of pests such as cochinilla in some farms.
That insect can hurt flowers and small fruits in the trees.
Vietnam’s weather was the latest factor behind record high prices for robusta coffee.
However, Ganes said there is forecast for rains coming in May, which could relieve the dryness. — Reuters
