After 6 years of reclaiming barren land, the organic coconut garden is now lush and green.

KHANH HOA - Not only has Phuong Hoang Farm transformed barren, rocky land into a lush green coconut plantation, but the owner also periodically "feeds" the coconut trees with salt, resulting in exceptionally delicious and sweet fruit.

Phuong Hoang Farm, a coconut farm, harvests bunches of organically grown coconuts. Photo: KS.

The "green from root to tip" criterion.

Amidst the scorching April heat, we visited Phuong Hoang Farm, a coconut farm located at the foot of Phuong Hoang Pass on National Highway 26 (in Ninh Tay commune, Ninh Hoa town, Khanh Hoa province). Upon entering the farm, we were greeted by a lush green space, from the ground to the rows of coconut trees laden with fruit.

Mr. Nguyen Phi Truong, owner of Phuong Hoang Farm, said that his philosophy of clean agriculture is to maintain green spaces from the ground to the top of the trees. Therefore, he keeps the grass in his garden natural to cover and protect the soil, limit erosion and runoff, and help the soil retain moisture better. This has proven effective even in hot weather, as the coconut garden remains moist and the grass is lush and green.

Furthermore, keeping the grass in the garden either mowed or allowing it to die naturally will help improve the organic matter content in the soil, contributing to the healthy growth and development of the coconut garden.

The coconut trees are lush and green from root to tip in this dry, sunny weather. Photo: KS.

This is also one of the "5 No's" principles, which include: No herbicides, no chemical fertilizers, no chemical pesticides, no growth stimulants, no genetically modified seeds, and protection of natural predators, that Phuong Hoang Farm has consistently upheld in its organic production since 2018.

Leading us on a tour of his coconut plantation, Mr. Nguyen Phi Truong introduced the entire farm, surrounded by the Chinh stream, covering a total area of ​​approximately 20 hectares. Initially, he planted 4 hectares of coconut trees with 1,000 saplings, along with many fruit trees including apples, guavas, plums, and papayas. Of these, 2 hectares of coconut trees are already yielding a stable harvest of about 4,000-5,000 coconuts per month. The coconut trees are planted in neat rows, spaced about 6 meters apart, and utilize a modern sprinkler irrigation system for water-saving irrigation.

To have the abundant coconut trees he has today is the result of a long and arduous process undertaken by Mr. Truong. Previously, this land was very dry and rocky, making it impossible to grow anything. After purchasing the land from the locals, Mr. Truong transformed it into lush coconut groves, something few others had previously been able to achieve on the mountain.

Mr. Nguyen Phi Truong, owner of Phuong Hoang Farm coconut plantation. Photo: Engineer.

“To practice organic farming, experts suggest letting the land rest for 24 months and allowing grass to grow naturally to detoxify the soil. I stopped production on this plot of land for 3 years before planting coconuts,” shared Mr. Nguyen Phi Truong, adding that the coconut variety planted at his farm is the Ninh Da Siamese coconut (Ninh Hoa town) – one of the specialty fruits in Khanh Hoa province favored by consumers for its sweet, delicious water, thin flesh, and green skin. He carefully selected the seedlings from ancient coconut groves in Ninh Da ward to ensure quality.

From our observation, the coconut trees here all have perforated plastic bottles hanging from them, each containing camphor pellets. Seeing my curiosity, Mr. Nguyen Nong, a worker at the farm, explained that this is how the farm repels insects, especially coconut beetles. Currently, the farm does not use any pesticides.

Workers at the farm "feed" coconut trees with salt by placing it on the coconut fronds and treetops. Photo: KS.

In addition to the above measures, the farm also plants yellow jasmine, myrtle, and flamboyant trees around the garden to attract natural predators such as bees and butterflies to inhabit and eat harmful insects. With this method, insect pests in the coconut garden are very few, and the farm has never had to use pesticides, not even permitted biological pesticides, to kill harmful organisms.

Mr. Le Van Phat, the technical manager of Phuong Hoang Farm coconut plantation, affirmed: “Coconut cultivation at the farm is completely clean in terms of soil, water, and fertilizer. The soil has been detoxified and treated according to recommendations, and the water used for irrigating the coconuts is mainly natural spring water. The fertilizers used are green manure from the remains of various green plants in the garden and high-quality organic fertilizers imported from Japan.”

Unique way to "eat salt" coconuts.

In essence, organic coconut farming, according to Mr. Nguyen Phi Truong, is about cultivating coconuts in harmony with nature, just as our ancestors did. However, when Mr. Truong started producing organic coconuts, most people questioned, "Aren't all coconuts organic?" With many years of experience in coconut farming and a passion for this crop, Mr. Truong explained that this way of thinking is no longer correct today for the following reasons:

Firstly, organic coconuts are free of chemicals, but if farmers spray herbicides, toxins will seep into the soil and then into the groundwater. Since coconut trees primarily draw water, they absorb groundwater very strongly. Therefore, the coconuts are no longer organic as they once were.

Coconut trees are hung with bottles containing mothballs to repel insects. Photo: KS.

Secondly, coconut trees are susceptible to many pests and diseases such as beetles, coconut weevils, rhinoceros beetles, etc., so if not carefully cared for and pest-free, the trees will die. Furthermore, if farmers hastily use pesticides to kill pests, thinking that the hard coconut shell won't affect the fruit, they don't realize that coconut trees have many flower clusters, so spraying like that can contaminate the coconuts with chemicals from a young age.

Thirdly, to increase productivity, farmers are using chemical fertilizers instead of manure. The overuse of chemical fertilizers will cause soil compaction and severe contamination.

Furthermore, according to experts, when fresh coconuts are peeled, they reveal white flesh. However, after a short time, this flesh turns dark or yellowish-brown due to the sap oozing out. Many vendors, in order to maintain their appearance, dip the coconuts in chemicals to keep them white. This is also a reason why the coconuts are no longer considered organic.

To experience the difference between organic coconuts and conventionally produced coconuts, the farmer cut open a few for us to enjoy right there. After drinking the coconut water, my colleagues all praised its intensely sweet, rich flavor, which was distinctly different from Siamese coconuts from other regions.

Upon hearing this, the owner of Phuong Hoang Farm coconut farm explained that, in addition to the variety itself, the coconuts here are mainly irrigated with natural spring water. Furthermore, the coconut trees are regularly given salt and fertilized with organic fertilizer, resulting in a very unique and distinctive flavor.

Coconuts from Phuong Hoang Farm are labeled with traceability codes before being delivered to consumers. Photo: KS.

According to the farm owner, growing organic coconuts certainly requires higher investment costs compared to conventional production. However, the high quality and branded product command a much higher price.

“Currently, coconuts from Phuong Hoang Farm are highly appreciated by consumers for their quality. In addition to being sold to some hotels in Nha Trang City, our coconuts are also supplied to local conferences and businesses that need them, with a selling price of about 20,000 VND/coconut, or about 15,000 VND/coconut at the farm – double the price of traditionally grown coconuts.”

"To help consumers identify coconuts from our farm, we have created a traceability code to affix to each coconut. This allows consumers to trace the origin and the entire process of organic coconut cultivation at our farm," the farm owner shared.

Mr. Nguyen Phi Truong, owner of Phuong Hoang Farm, said that he is currently working with the Khanh Hoa Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection and the Department of Crop Production to inspect, evaluate, assess, and grant organic certification for the farm's coconuts. At the same time, the farm is expanding its coconut cultivation area and establishing the Phuong Hoang Green Agriculture and Tourism Cooperative to connect, guide, and transfer organic coconut farming techniques to local farmers to meet market demands.

Source: https://nongsanviet.nongnghiep.vn/6-nam-cai-tao-dat-can-20ha-cay-huu-co-da-xanh-muot-d382236.html