Champassak coffee growers seek better prices
Champassak coffee growers seek better prices
Coffee growers in Pakxong district, Champassak province have called on their provincial National Assembly members to help solve the problem of the low price of coffee after it has steadily dropped for the last two years.
This request was made during a recent visit to the area by provincial National Assembly member, Mr Bounthien Thongkeo, according to local media.
The issue of the low price of coffee has meant that the incomes of many families of growers within the district have fallen substantially.
The provincial authorities have worked through the Department of Industry and Commerce in cooperation with the Lao Coffee Association to set the buying price of coffee beans at 2,000 kip per kg but this is still low when compared with previous years.
The coffee price between October and November this year reached its lowest point as coffee prices on the world's markets have plummeted, the provincial import and export section head, Mr Vilaysone Keolasy, told Vientiane Times yesterday.
The previous price paid to the farmers for coffee beans was about 2,900-3,000 kip a kg but this year the price dropped to 1,800 kip at the beginning of last month and has just risen to 2,500-2,600 kip in the middle of this month, he said.
He is not sure whether the price of coffee beans will go up or down next month.
Mr Vilaysone reported that the cost of coffee beans for sale in the harbour is about US$1,700-US$1,800 a tonne for the middle d bean and US$2,400-US$2,600 for the small .
Just last year coffee was selling for around US$5,000 per tonne, according to the Secretary of the Lao Coffee Board.
The country exported almost 20,000 tonnes of coffee last year and this year that rose to about 33,000 tonnes, said Mr Vilaysone.
Revenue earned from the export of coffee is making a valuable contribution to socio-economic development and is helping to improving the living conditions of local farming families.
Champassak province has over 45,000 hectares of coffee cultivation, mo st of which is being grown in Pakxong district.
Lao coffee is organically farmed and renowned for its fine flavour, and has gained in popularity with conn oisseurs.
The temperate climate and soil quality on the Bolaven Plateau where most of the coffee is grown makes it ideal for the cultivation of the crop.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, coffee is Laos' top income earner among all exports of agricultural products, with a total of 18,300 tonnes earning about US$60 million last year.
vientiane times
