In late October, according to the reporter of Lao Dong Newspaper, coffee growing areas across Son La province such as Muong Chanh, Chieng Mai, Chieng An, Nam Lau, Muoi Noi, Chieng Coi... are entering the main harvest season.
The fruit-laden coffee gardens not only bring high economic value to growers but also open up seasonal job opportunities for many rural workers.
For more than 10 days now, Mr. Vang A Mang and his wife in Nong Vai village, Co Ma commune have put aside their housework and gone to Chieng Mai commune to pick coffee for hire. Although it is only a seasonal job, the couple earns about 700,000800,000 VND per day.
"Every day when I go early, work from 5am to more than 5pm, each person picks about 1kg, the couple gets nearly 2kg. The price they pay is from 4,0005,000 VND/kg, depending on the number of ripe fruits Mr. Mang shared.
With more than 1,800 hectares of coffee, Nam Lau commune is a locality with a fairly large area and coffee output. When gardeners are entering the peak harvest, the locality also becomes bustling with hundreds of seasonal workers being hired to pick coffee.
Mr. Cam Bun Loc, Chairman of Nam Lau Commune People's Committee, said: "This year, coffee has a good harvest and good prices, gardeners pay higher than previous years, from 4,0006,000 VND/kg. Each worker earns an average of 300,000400,000 VND per day, creating more joy and a stable source of income for the people.
In Muoi Noi commune, Mr. Lo Van Phanh's family has 3 hectares of coffee, this crop is estimated to yield more than 21 tons of fruit, earning over 600 million VND. To keep up with the progress, he hired 4 seasonal workers.
Ms. Lo Thi Inh (a coffee pickler for hire at Mr. Phanh's house) shared: "My house has finished collecting coffee and then we have to go down to pick it for hire. After doing this for two years, the garden owner has paid 4,000 VND/kg, sometimes up to 5,000 VND/kg at the beginning of the ripe coffee season. picking about 90 kg a day, the income is quite good, suitable for rural people like us".
Not only does it help coffee growers feel secure in production, seasonal work also brings in a significant source of income for many households in mountainous areas.
Mr. Lo Van Chuong (residing in Chieng Mai commune) said: "Currently, I am hiring 4 workers to pick coffee at a price of 4,000 VND/kg. Some people pick 180 kg per day, earning 450,000500,000 VND. This year, coffee is ripe and prices are stable, so everyone is excited.
According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Son La, the coffee crop of the province usually starts from the end of September and lasts until December every year. This is the time when gardeners focus on harvesting, creating jobs for thousands of local unskilled workers. The work is light, easy to do, just need to be quick and careful, so it should be suitable for many ages, especially women in mountainous areas.
With the current price of fresh coffee at 4,0005,000 VND/kg, coffee growers have a significant source of income, while hired workers also have a stable income of 300,000500,000 VND/day. Although it is only a short-term job, the coffee season has become a "seasonal work season" for many people in Son La, contributing to increasing income, improving life and promoting rural economic development.
