The 'key' to increasing the value of the coconut industry in the Mekong Delta region

Along with varieties and cultivation techniques, deep processing is considered the key to increasing the value of the Vietnamese coconut industry.

Coconut trees have long been a typical agricultural symbol of the Mekong Delta. Not only bringing high economic value, coconuts are also closely associated with the livelihood, culture and adaptability to harsh environments of the people in the West. In the context of increasing demand for coconut products, complex climate change and great pressure on replanting, the application of science and technology in breeding, cultivation and processing is opening up a direction for sustainable development for this important industry.

Coconut trees are the symbol of agriculture in the Mekong Delta. Photo: Mekong Delta Coconut Institute.

According to Master Nguyen Ngoc Trai (Mekong Delta Coconut Institute), coconut trees are currently grown in 93 countries and are considered the “tree of life” thanks to their high adaptability to drought, saltwater intrusion and versatility. In particular, coconut trees can grow well in conditions of limited water and nutrients, absorbing an average of 24.1 tons of CO₂/ha/year, making an important contribution to minimizing the impact of climate change.

Mr. Trai said that coconut is a plant that requires soil with high organic matter content, rich in macro-medium-micronutrients, loose and well-drained to avoid root rot, while still maintaining the necessary moisture. This is a favorable ecological condition that helps coconut grow sustainably, giving stable productivity and less affected by the environment. The Mekong Delta with suitable soil characteristics and large concentrated growing areas is currently the main contributor to the country's coconut output and export turnover.

Tra Vinh University has successfully researched embryonic and tissue cultured wax coconuts to help increase the rate of wax fruit production and expand the area of ​​wax coconuts in Vinh Long. Photo: Minh Dam.

Over the years, domestic institutes, schools and enterprises have achieved remarkable achievements in coconut breeding, especially with three main groups of varieties: oil coconut, water coconut and wax coconut. However, traditional breeding methods still have many limitations such as long growing time, difficulty in rapid propagation and uneven seed quality due to farmers' own seed storage. This makes productivity unstable and difficult to meet the increasing demand for replanting.

To solve this problem, many modern technologies have been applied. The most prominent are molecular biotechnology for breeding, advanced hybridization techniques, especially micropropagation technology such as tissue culture, embryo culture. This is a breakthrough that helps to quickly multiply a large number of high-quality, uniform seedlings and retain the good characteristics of the mother plant.

In particular, Tra Vinh wax coconut - a special and rare coconut variety is a clear demonstration of the success of Vietnamese science and technology. The Institute of Oil and Oil Plants Research is the first unit to propagate wax coconut by the method of sexual embryo culture with a success rate of over 60%. Next, Tra Vinh University improved the process through a project of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in the period of 2017 - 2022, raising the success rate to 63% and commercializing the seedlings since 2011. Thanks to that, the wax coconut area has been expanded, productivity has improved significantly with the wax fruit rate reaching from 85 - 95%.

In addition to breed research, soil assessment is also emphasized. A survey of 200 coconut land samples in Vinh Long showed that most of the soil has an average pH of 7.2, suitable for the nutrient absorption capacity of coconut trees. However, the nitrogen content is quite low, requiring farmers to adjust the amount of fertilizer and care techniques to improve the productivity and quality of coconut gardens.

Wax coconut garden in Tra Vinh University campus. Photo: Minh Dam.

Along with varieties and cultivation techniques, deep processing is considered the key to increasing the value of the Vietnamese coconut industry. Global demand for coconut products such as coconut oil, coconut water, activated carbon, cosmetics and functional foods is constantly increasing. In particular, wax coconut with its sticky, dense flesh has the potential to be processed into many high-end products, from food to medicine.

Currently, many institutes and schools have focused on researching the extraction of biological compounds, improving post-harvest technology and supporting businesses to commercialize products. This contributes to expanding the market, increasing income for coconut growers and reducing dependence on raw material exports.

From the analysis and research results, the Mekong Delta Coconut Institute proposed 6 groups of strategic orientations to comprehensively develop the coconut industry in the coming time. Master Nguyen Ngoc Trai said that it is necessary to prioritize the application of biotechnology in selecting and creating high-quality coconut varieties that adapt to climate change and saline intrusion, especially with three main groups of varieties.

At the same time, strengthen research on coconut diseases in the direction of biological safety, ensuring stable production. Promote research on deep processing, extraction of biological active ingredients to increase economic value. At the same time, support businesses to commercialize products from coconut and wax coconut. Develop circular agriculture, utilize coconut by-products as organic fertilizer or value-added products. Apply artificial intelligence (AI) in pest monitoring, environmental forecasting and smart coconut garden management.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/chia-khoa-nang-gia-tri-nganh-hang-dua-vung-dbscl-d784034.html