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Vietnam is today the world’s largest producer of Robusta coffee, however they are currently limiting sales on their coffee while they seek higher prices during a drought that they fear will reduce the next harvest.
Le Tien Hung, Dak Lak-based deputy director of Sept. 2nd Import- Export Co. says of the situation “It’s very difficult to buy beans now as farmers are still holding back sales in anticipation of higher prices. Dry weather will probably hurt the next crop, so growers are even more hesitant to sell”
The water levels at many of the reservoirs in Vietnam are currently only at 20-50% of the capacity the reservoirs are designed to hold. The government has warned that the drought might possibly hurt coffee and rice production. These reservoirs are important in coffee cultivation in Vietnam as farmers irrigate their crops with water pumped from the reservoirs while they wait for the rainy season to start in May each year. The drought is covering 5 provinces currently.