¡¡¡¡ HANOI, March 28 (Xinhuanet) -- the Vietnam Coffee and Cacao Association said that the country's coffee output in the 2001-2002crop will decrease by 600,000 tons, according to a report of Vietnam News Agency on Thursday.

¡¡¡¡The steady decline in coffee prices over the past two years hascaused many coffee growers to develop other farm produce.

¡¡¡¡Prolonged droughts in the country's main coffee-growing areas have also made coffee output reduce.

¡¡¡¡The country exported 60,000 tons of coffee beans in March, a 22.4 percent increase over February, but its three-month export valuedecreased compared with the same period last year.

¡¡¡¡According to the International Coffee Organization, among the world's 60 coffee growers and exporters, Vietnam stands third after Brazil and Colombia in coffee export volume with an annual quantity of 11.35 million bags (each weighing 60 kg) shipped abroad. Enditem

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