Dong Thap promotes sustainable development of coconut industry

Dried coconuts in Dong Thap are now being purchased by traders at record high prices, helping growers feel secure in investing in coconut garden care.

Prepare dried coconut.

In the coconut-growing communes in the Go Cong sweetening area in the eastern localities of Dong Thap province, traders come to buy dry coconuts at prices ranging from 150,000-180,000 VND/dozen (12 fruits). Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh in Binh Ninh commune, Dong Thap province has just harvested 0.8 hectares of coconuts with 1,400 fruits, selling them for 180,000 VND/dozen, earning a profit of more than 15 million VND.

Dong Thap has more than 21,654 hectares of coconut, concentrated in the coconut-growing commune in the Go Cong sweetening area in the eastern localities of the province, with an output of about 234,000 tons of fruit/year; of which, concentrated in Binh Ninh commune, An Thanh Thuy commune, Cho Gao commune with nearly 7,700 hectares of coconut (an increase of more than 890 hectares compared to the previous year) with an area of coconuts bearing fruit of over 6,500 hectares.

Mr. Tran Hoang Nhat Nam, Secretary of the Party Committee of Binh Ninh Commune, Dong Thap Province, said that in order to promote the potential and strengths of coconut trees in commodity agriculture , the commune continues to implement Plan No. 91/KH-UBND dated January 11, 2022 on developing specialized coconut production areas until 2025 and the following years. The locality encourages farmers to change their habits and widely apply intensive agricultural science and technology; at the same time, encourage people to switch to organic coconut cultivation to improve the quality and value of coconut products on the market. Binh Ninh Commune currently has 10 hectares of coconut produced according to VietGAP criteria, 20 hectares produced according to Global GAP criteria, along with 78 cooperatives, 6 cooperatives, 4 enterprises and 30 facilities purchasing and processing related products from coconuts.

Binh Ninh commune has also organized many training courses and transferred organic coconut farming techniques to over 300 farmers in specialized areas; in which, focusing on instructions on organic coconut growing processes, using fertilizers and biological pesticides in the permitted list, keeping a farming diary, not using prohibited substances and ensuring quarantine time... Encouraging the application of science and technology in intensive farming has helped increase local coconut productivity from 22 tons/ha/year in the past to 24 tons/ha/year at present.

To limit the damage caused by beetles and black-headed caterpillars on coconut trees, the commune's agricultural staff continued to adopt and release parasitic wasps on black-headed caterpillar larvae; distributed 100 black-headed caterpillar management butterfly documents and 100 coconut beetle management butterfly documents to households. One of the favorable conditions for developing the potential of coconut trees in Dong Thap province is that Thabico Tien Giang Food Industry Joint Stock Company has invested in a fruit processing factory and coconut products in Binh Ninh commune with a processing capacity of 300,000 coconuts/day, ready to purchase organic coconuts for farmers.

In order to achieve the goal of having 4,000 hectares of organic coconut production by 2025, Binh Ninh, An Thanh Thuy, and Cho Gao communes of Dong Thap province have surveyed 242 hectares. After many steps, the communes have selected qualified households to implement the project first. The consulting unit has surveyed and evaluated an area of 219.21 hectares.

According to statistics, the total coconut area of Dong Thap province is currently more than 21,654 hectares, with a fruit-bearing area of 18,116 hectares, a yield of 13.5 tons/ha, and an output of 244,115 tons/year. From 2015 to present, the coconut area has increased by 5,749 hectares, with an average growth rate of 4.5%/year. Through assessment, when the coconut trees enter the stable harvest stage, coconut growers earn an average profit of about 91.2 million VND/ha/year.

To exploit the development potential of coconut trees, the Department of Agriculture of Dong Thap province will propose to the Provincial People's Committee for policies to coordinate with related departments and localities to develop a project to develop coconut trees in the province. In the coming time, Dong Thap province will establish cooperatives so that coconut growers must participate in cooperatives and closely link with businesses. Relevant departments and branches will support cooperatives and coconut growers to build brands and link consumption...

One of the favorable conditions for developing the potential of coconut trees in Dong Thap province is that Thabico Tien Giang Food Industry Joint Stock Company has invested in a fruit processing factory and coconut products in Binh Ninh commune with a processing capacity of 300,000 coconuts/day and night, ready to purchase organic coconuts for farmers. Moreover, promoting the signing of the Protocol on official coconut exports to China will help this product have the opportunity to "make a living" for key coconut-producing localities, including Dong Thap province.

Recently, Dong Thap fresh coconuts have been officially approved for export to China. The first shipment was exported on the afternoon of October 24, 2024, by FADOexport Joint Stock Company with 3 containers, with nearly 70 tons of fresh coconuts, by international railway. This is a good sign for this product, which has the opportunity to surpass the 1 billion USD mark in the near future, a positive signal for coconut products.

Article and photos: PHUNG LONG

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/dong-thap-day-manh-phat-trien-nganh-dua-theo-huong-ben-vung-a189591.html