High in the mountains of Houaphanh province, northern Laos, in an area historically known for opium cultivation, farmers are creating a safer, more sustainable future by growing coffee.
“I get up at 4 a.m. during the harvest season to pick the red berries that are taken to the processing plant,” Phuperp, 22, tells the UN.
Phuperp comes from a farming family that grows corn, rice, legumes and pumpkins, but his favorite crop is coffee.
It can be grown without the need to cut down trees, which helps prevent land deforestation and, crucially, at least for Phuperp, it grows best in the shade.
“If I could, I would only harvest coffee, since it allows me to work in the shade, out of the strong sun,” he says.
Since 2016, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in collaboration with the Government of Laos, has worked to promote alternative livelihoods for local farmers in Houaphanh and other provinces particularly affected by the cultivation of poppy, from which opium is made.
The shift to coffee farming has transformed the Phuerp community. “Opium cultivation kept the community trapped in poverty,” he explains. “With coffee, we are building a future.”
A farmer examines coffee plants in a nursery.
More than a drink
Phuerp took his coffee, which according to his tasting notes is “floral, apple, chocolate and sweet,” to the United Nations House in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, where he served a cup to the Secretary General of the UN, António Guterres.
“Congratulations,” said António Guterres. Coffee takes a long time to grow, doesn’t it?”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres (right) talks with Phuerp (left), a coffee farmer in Laos.
Strengthening rural economies
Phuerp is part of the Vanmai Coffee Cooperative, which represents 341 farming families cultivating 405 hectares of coffee in Houaphanh province.
Vanmai members are beginning to build a legal and sustainable future in an area where farmers used to grow opium, which can be used to produce heroin and other legal and illegal drugs.
António Guterres praised the success of the cooperative, which has demonstrated the role that coffee can play in strengthening rural economies and, at the same time, in solving global problems such as poverty and drug trafficking.
a new day
“Vanmai, which means ‘new day’ in Lao, encapsulates the hope and resilience of these communities,” said Soutthida Soukthavone, UNODC alternative development expert.
The cooperative’s efforts have not only provided a sustainable livelihood for local farmers, but have also opened doors to international markets.
With more than 230 tons of green coffee beans exported, the cooperative has achieved long-term business alliances, has obtained certification Fairtrade fair and sustainable trade, and is transitioning to organic production.
Women leading the way
The Vanmai Women’s Network was established in 2021 to increase women’s participation in the coffee business. The network manages initiatives such as the Vanmai coffee cart at the United Nations House in Vientiane, where the Secretary-General and Phuerp shared their coffee moment.
The cart, managed by women from the cooperative, demonstrates their growing role in decision-making, a change from previous practices in which women had limited participation in leadership.
Coffee cultivation can support the reforestation process.
Here, the seed-to-cup philosophy comes to life as coffee is sold directly to customers, generating income that flows back to farming communities.
“Vanmai Coffee Cooperative is more than a business; “This coffee is a testament to the power of alternative development,” said Sung Ho Hwang, director of UNODC in Laos.
“This coffee tells a story, a story of resilience, partnership and hope. “It shows us that, with the right support, communities can enter the licit market and create a better future for themselves and their children,” he added.
“By offering farmers a legal and profitable crop, it addresses the root causes of opium cultivation, poverty, isolation and lack of opportunity.”
UNODC alternative development initiatives aim to promote legal economic dynamics and inclusive socio-economic development in rural Laos and Myanmar, as well as Afghanistan, Bolivia, Colombia and Peru.
Guterres finished his cup of coffee next to Phuerp, who, with her weathered farmer’s hands still holding her cup, smiled calmly.
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