Figure 1. The survey team working with officials of the People’s Committees of communes in Sơn La Province.
From November 10 to 14, 2025, a group of PhD students and lecturers from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH) conducted a field trip to Chieng Mai commune (Son La province) and worked with the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Son La province, to collect information for the CAFSUS Project - Mitigating climate change in agroforestry landscapes through sustainable sourcing policies. The trip was conducted right after the pre-field trip in Son La from November 3-7, helping the group build a suitable approach and initial connections with local actors in the coffee Global Value Chain.
As planned, on the afternoon of November 10, the delegation worked with the People's Committee of Chieng Mai commune and representatives of Detech Company to discuss an overview of agricultural production and the local linkage system. The commune government pledged to support the delegation in approaching farmers, traders and community groups throughout the survey process.
Figure 2. Working session at the Sơn La Provincial People’s Committee on the first day of the field survey
On November 11 and 12, the research team – with the participation of Prof. Dr. Niels Fold – University of Copenhagen and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jeff Nielson – University of Sydney – conducted interviews with purchasing households, farming households and cooperatives, and worked directly with the Chief of Co Tinh village and organized group discussions with farmers. The contents focused on farming practices, transactional relationships, production costs, market risks and livelihood changes.
On November 13, the delegation continued to interview purchasing and producing households, and expanded the survey to agricultural processing factories in Chiang Mai to complete data on stages in the value chain. The information collected helps to compare and clarify the link between production - purchasing - processing locally.
On November 14, the delegation had a working session with the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Son La province, discussing agricultural policies and orientations for value chain development in the context of the locality promoting sustainable agriculture. The Department representative highly appreciated the research approach and said that they would coordinate and support the delegation in the next stages of the project.
Figure 3. Field survey conducted at a farming household in Chiềng Mai Commune
At the end of the working trip, the delegation held a meeting to summarize, systematize data and initially assess outstanding issues in the agricultural value chain in Chiang Mai. The collected results will be an important basis for the researchers to have data to implement the next tasks of the CAFSUS Project.
Source: The Program Office
