Orbia Netafim and partners roll out climate-smart insurance for Vietnamese coffee farmers

Vietnamese smallholder coffee farmers are getting a new tool to manage climate risk. Orbia Netafim’s Precision Agriculture unit, through its local distributor Khang Thinh Irrigation Technology, has teamed up with Australian insurtech firm Hillridge Technology to offer insurance linked directly to precision irrigation adoption.

The program, distributed through Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group Vietnam, initially covers 100 hectares of coffee farms in Dak Nong province, Vietnam’s Robusta heartland. By bundling advanced irrigation systems with weather-indexed insurance, the initiative aims to help farmers protect yields from droughts, erratic rainfall, and heat stress while improving water and nutrient efficiency.

Vietnam is the world’s largest Robusta producer, with more than 600,000 smallholders. Many struggle to manage climate risk, leaving crops—and livelihoods—vulnerable. The new model provides embedded risk protection, allowing farmers to invest in technology while shielding themselves from financial shocks.

James Symons, Business Development Director APAC at Hillridge Technology, called it a “climate-smart farming insurance model,” linking technology adoption with financial protection. The initiative could expand to other crops and regions, setting a new benchmark for sustainable agriculture finance in Southeast Asia.

Orbia Netafim pioneered drip irrigation in 1965 and now operates in over 100 countries. Khang Thinh distributes its solutions across Vietnam, while Hillridge provides automated weather-indexed insurance solutions in partnership with MSIG Vietnam.