VIRI's Blog

The Ea Kiet Fair Agricultural Service Cooperative was formerly known as the Ea Kiet Fair Trade Linkage Group. Established in October 2008, the group was officially reorganized into a cooperative in March 2011. At its inception, the cooperative had only 48 members. To date, membership has grown to 97 individuals, including 4 members from ethnic minority communities, with 44 female and 53 male members. The cooperative manages a total cultivation area of 183 hectares, with an annual yield of 722 tons, certified under the Fairtrade (FLO) standards.

Ea Kiet Fair Agricultural Service Cooperative

Address: Hamlet 1, Ea Kiet Commune, Cu M’gar District, Dak Lak Province
Donor Agency: European Union (EU)
Implementing Agency: Vietnam Rural Industries Research and Development Institute (VIRI)
Project Duration: From the year of 2014 to 2017

1. Through the implementation of sustainable coffee production (FLO), the Cooperative has achieved the following notable successes:

• Socially: Promoted social and economic development for smallholder producers. Ensured democratic governance, non-discrimination among various economic groups in society, and financial transparency to create optimal value for the community. Supported local authorities in successfully achieving new rural development goals. Contributed to the construction of great solidarity houses and allocated part of the investment toward product quality improvement. Created employment opportunities for laborers and for the children of members, thereby strengthening community cohesion.
• Economically: Increased income and improved living standards for members, aiming toward accumulation and sustainable development.
• Ensured sustainability and preservation of plant growth in a clean, green, and natural environment. Provided training and guidance on plant care and protection, such as integrated pest management, grasping and monitoring the pest situation, and applying effective pest prevention measures. Pesticides were used in accordance with regulations. Members planted shade trees, windbreaks, and ground cover to prevent soil erosion and protect water sources. Waste management practices were enforced. Prohibited all forms of hunting, captivity, or trade of wild animals. Promoted fire prevention and safety, and strictly opposed genetically modified products.
• In terms of working conditions: Always ensured safe working environments and health protection for laborers. Prohibited discriminatory acts based on race, skin color, gender, or any other basis. Absolutely no forced labor was allowed. Children under the age of 15 were not employed. Employment practices must not negatively affect the education or social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development of young workers. Special attention was given to upholding and protecting the rights of women and children.

2. Economic and Social Effectiveness:

• First: The selling price of the coffee product remained stable and was generally 2,500 VND to 3,000 VND/kg higher than the market rate. Household members’ living standards are improved by 15 to 20 million VND annually.
• Second: Each year, household members received training in scientific and technical methods for cultivating and caring for coffee plants. These programs helped members identify pests and diseases on coffee plants to apply the most effective control methods. Guidance was provided on grafting techniques and using biological agents to compost coffee husks, reducing input costs and increasing profit margins.
• Third: Members learned basic accounting skills through household farm recordkeeping. Every year, the Cooperative gave out health insurance cards for medical treatment, visited in times of illness or hardship, and offered holiday gifts worth 800,000 VND each. Children of cooperative members who excelled academically were awarded: 300,000 VND for excellent performance and 200,000 VND for good performance. Members also had opportunities to participate in study visits and learn from other units.
• Fourth: Annually, the Cooperative generated considerable income from selling certified coffee. This revenue supported local government efforts in new rural development initiatives, such as constructing rural roads. To date, the Cooperative has supported the construction of 4 km of roads, including 3 km of concrete roads in hamlets 2, 6, and 9, and 1 km of gravel road in hamlet 11, with a total value exceeding 2 billion VND. Additional support included installing public lighting systems in hamlets 5 and 8 to ensure security, contributing 40 million VND to the commune’s waste collection vehicle, 10 million VND to the maritime and island program, 5 million VND annually to assist the poor during Tet, 5 million VND for free cataract surgeries for residents in the province, and 40 million VND toward building great solidarity houses for ethnic minority communities. The Cooperative also contributed tens of millions of VND to support cultural, artistic, and sports programs organized by the commune. Annually, full contributions were made to funds such as disaster prevention and local national defense and security.