Dak Nong: New style of cocoa growing, profit of hundreds of millions of dong

Dak Nong promotes circular economy in the cocoa industry, helping to improve productivity, quality and economic efficiency for people.

Changing the face of cocoa trees

Over the past 3 years, the Circular Economy Project in Cocoa Production: From Cocoa Beans to Chocolate Bars - funded by the European Union (EU) has changed the cocoa growing practices of the people in the Central Highlands, including Dak Nong .

Many areas of cocoa grown in a circular manner have been expanded, helping people increase their income and improve their lives. The cocoa industry in the Central Highlands provinces has developed remarkably.

Circular economy project in cocoa production helps increase income and protect the environment for local people

The project will be implemented from July 2022 to July 2026 in Dak Nong, Dak Lak , Gia Lai and some provinces in the Southeast. The first goal of the project is to improve the capacity of cocoa cultivation and production in the community.

As of April 2025, the project has helped 1,163 cooperative officials, businesses and key farmers improve their cocoa production capacity through training courses.

The project has updated and transferred circular economic solutions in cocoa production to the people. About 30% of households participating in the project have improved their income by practicing the knowledge and skills trained in cocoa cultivation.

Mr. Cam Ba Bien’s family in Hamlet 2, Dak Wil Commune, Cu Jut (Dak Nong) grows more than 700 cocoa trees on 7 sao of production land. According to Mr. Bien, there was a time when he wanted to cut down the cocoa trees because the prices of coffee and pepper were higher.

But in recent years, the cocoa market has opened up, prices have become more stable. With the application of circular farming methods, pests and diseases are well managed, so he decided to keep his cocoa garden.

According to Mr. Cam Ba Bien in village 2, Dak Wil commune, Cu Jut (Dak Nong), the circular economic model helps growers be more responsible in cocoa cultivation.

Mr. Bien said: “Along with some other agricultural products, cocoa prices have continuously increased sharply, currently at 15,000 VND/kg of fresh fruit and over 180,000 VND/kg of dry beans. With the current price, I hope to make a profit of about 300 million VND from the cocoa garden.”

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hoa's family in Thuan An commune, Dak Mil district (Dak Nong) has also been growing cocoa for more than 15 years, but she has never seen prices as high as this year.

Ms. Hoa's family has 1.3 hectares of cocoa in the commercial period. Thanks to actively applying safe, closed production measures according to the circular economic model, the cocoa garden has achieved high productivity and quality.

The project expects that by the end of the year, 3,500 farmers will have increased income thanks to the application of renewable production technology; 500 people will have better jobs; 6 businesses will convert to a circular economy; and 4,000 tons of cocoa will have better production processes.

Raising the bar for the cocoa industry

According to Mr. Bach Thanh Tuan, Director of the Center for Community Development (CDC) - the project implementing unit - the project has built 6 models demonstrating circular economic solutions for the cocoa industry.

A set of guidelines for circular economic solutions in the cocoa industry has been developed, standardized and is being widely disseminated in the Central Highlands and several other provinces.

The project has produced two case studies on cocoa production and published them. In addition, 26 technical assistance activities have been implemented by the project, with business partners and cooperatives to promote circular economy solutions in cocoa farming.

Mr. Vu Van Nghia, Director of Krong No Agricultural Cooperative, a pioneer in building a cocoa production area according to safe production standards in Tan Thanh commune, Krong No district (Dak Nong)

Before the project, Dak Nong farmers still planted and harvested cocoa in the traditional way. People mainly used the beans to make chocolate products.

While the beans only account for less than 10% of the total cocoa bean mass, the economic value is not high. Excess products such as cocoa bean shells, leaves, etc. are often thrown in the garden, causing pollution and generating large amounts of emissions.

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Businesses in the cocoa industry are ready to change but need a clear direction that is both effective and profitable. This is also the foundation for applying the circular economy to other agricultural products such as coffee, pepper, durian, macadamia... and expanding to many localities in Vietnam.

Mr. Bach Thanh Tuan, Director of Community Development Center (CDC)

However, since the implementation of the circular cocoa growing project, with the technological support of the Institute of Agricultural Environment, all remaining surplus parts of cocoa trees such as shells, leaves, and stems have been converted into useful materials.

Cocoa husks are composted into a nutrient-rich soil conditioner; fermented husks are used as animal feed. In addition, pyrolysis of cocoa husks is also used to produce biochar, which helps improve soil structure, stimulate plant growth, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through carbon storage in the soil.

These methods help farmers reduce input costs in cocoa production, increase crop yields and help protect the environment effectively.

Cocoa products of Krong No Agricultural Cooperative

Mr. Bach Thanh Tuan said: “In addition to the circular economic development model in cocoa production, the EU project also contributes to awakening the potential of Vietnam's agricultural products. That is through a new management method, adapting to climate change, meeting the high requirements of demanding markets.”

Dak Nong has about 400 hectares of cocoa, mainly concentrated in Dak Mil district (of which Duc Lap Company has nearly 170 hectares), Krong No, Cu Jut, Dak Song... Cocoa trees are grown exclusively or intercropped with cashew and rubber trees. Cocoa productivity can reach 2.5 - 3 tons/ha. The current average price of raw cocoa beans is from 60,000 - 70,000 VND/kg.

Source: https://baodaknong.vn/dak-nong-trong-ca-cao-kieu-moi-lai-tram-trieu-dong-251588.html