Coffee vs. Cacao
Coffee vs. Cacao: A case study from the Vietnamese Central Highlands.
World Food and Fiber – PSSC392
Case Study #1 Final Report
Introduction Dak Lak is the largest province in the Central Highland region of Vietnam. Due to its perfect climate, soil and topography for coffee production, Dak Lak’s economy is once based in agriculture and forestry with coffee cultivation the dominating industry. Despite signs of a long-term collapse in coffee prices, temporary profitable returns to coffee production and government schemes have encouraged many new coffee planters in the early 1990s (Ha & Shively, 2005). Large areas of forest land have been destroyed and converted for new coffee plantations. In addition, temporary price rises in coffee have attracted further expansion of existing coffee farmers. Yet, the destruction of forests, rapid expansion of coffee plantation, and intensive drainage practices have led to soil erosion and serious water shortages (Doutriaux, Geisler, & Shively, 2008). After a brief economic success, coffee prices crashed and dropped because of an inflow of coffee into the economy since the Vietnamese government has been fostering its production. As a result of collapses in coffee production due to drought or flood and dramatic fluctuations in the world coffee prices and demands, the Dak Lak’s economy and growth patterns have been negatively impacted. Thereby, along with the village council Mr. Nam, villagers from Dak Lak have decided to search for possible alternatives to coffee in hopes that they would thrive again and make a profit off their harvests (Ha & Shively, 2005). This case study report will detail more facts about Dak Lak and its persisting problem, will identify several decision makers and their goals as well as solutions, will evaluate each possible solution, and will continuously monitor the condition after a solution was chosen and implemented.
Facts Pertaining to the Case
The environment in the
World Food and Fiber – PSSC392
Case Study #1 Final Report
Introduction Dak Lak is the largest province in the Central Highland region of Vietnam. Due to its perfect climate, soil and topography for coffee production, Dak Lak’s economy is once based in agriculture and forestry with coffee cultivation the dominating industry. Despite signs of a long-term collapse in coffee prices, temporary profitable returns to coffee production and government schemes have encouraged many new coffee planters in the early 1990s (Ha & Shively, 2005). Large areas of forest land have been destroyed and converted for new coffee plantations. In addition, temporary price rises in coffee have attracted further expansion of existing coffee farmers. Yet, the destruction of forests, rapid expansion of coffee plantation, and intensive drainage practices have led to soil erosion and serious water shortages (Doutriaux, Geisler, & Shively, 2008). After a brief economic success, coffee prices crashed and dropped because of an inflow of coffee into the economy since the Vietnamese government has been fostering its production. As a result of collapses in coffee production due to drought or flood and dramatic fluctuations in the world coffee prices and demands, the Dak Lak’s economy and growth patterns have been negatively impacted. Thereby, along with the village council Mr. Nam, villagers from Dak Lak have decided to search for possible alternatives to coffee in hopes that they would thrive again and make a profit off their harvests (Ha & Shively, 2005). This case study report will detail more facts about Dak Lak and its persisting problem, will identify several decision makers and their goals as well as solutions, will evaluate each possible solution, and will continuously monitor the condition after a solution was chosen and implemented.
Facts Pertaining to the Case
The environment in the
References: Castella, J.C., Boissau, S., Nguyen, H.T., & Novosad, P., (2004, May), Impact of forestland allocation on land use in a mountainous province of Vietnam Homepage:www.elsevier.com/locate/landusepol, 23(2006), 147-160. Retrieved February 13, 2011 from Science direct. Doutriaux, S., Geisler, C., & Shively G., (2008, December), Competing for Coffee Space: Development-Induced Displacement in the Central Highlands of Vietnam Ha, D.T., & Shively G., (2005, August), Coffee vs. cacao: A case study from the Vietnam central highlands Retrieved February 13, 2011 from American Society of Agronomy. Knowler, D, & Bradshaw, B., (2006, January), Farmers’ adoption of conservation agriculture: A review and synthesis of recent research