The large-scale cocoa plantation project is a huge success.

In 2015, Trong Duc Cocoa Co., Ltd. (located in Phu Hoa commune, Dinh Quan district) was the pioneering enterprise in Dong Nai province to implement the Large-Scale Cocoa Farming Project, linking production with consumption. To date, the project has developed more than 700 hectares of cocoa plantations in Dong Nai province and some neighboring provinces and cities.

Cocoa farmers in Ngoc Dinh commune (Dinh Quan district) are excited about the harvest season because cocoa prices have surged dramatically. Photo: B. Nguyen

Currently, farmers are selling fresh cocoa beans at the farm gate for 16,000 VND/kg, a record high in the last 70 years. Cocoa farmers participating in large-scale farming projects are reaping unprecedented profits from this crop.

Farmers reap huge profits.

The price of fresh cocoa beans has risen sharply due to rapidly increasing demand for the product in the global market. Meanwhile, supply is less than demand, as the world's largest cocoa-producing region in Africa has suffered crop failures due to drought. It is predicted that cocoa prices will remain high in the near future due to crop failures in many countries.

Mr. Pham Van Hue, a farmer with a 2.5-hectare cocoa plantation in Ngoc Dinh commune (Dinh Quan district), compared his situation when he first joined the Large-Scale Cocoa Farming Project. When cocoa was intercropped in cashew orchards, farmers only hoped to achieve a profit of 40-60 million VND/hectare/year. Now, cocoa prices have increased more than three times compared to when he first joined the project. Cocoa yields have also steadily increased, allowing farmers to achieve profits of 200-300 million VND/hectare/year.

In 2024, Trong Duc Cocoa Co., Ltd. produced and supplied more than 300,000 cocoa seedlings to the market, an increase of over 150% compared to 2023. In the future, the company will continue to invest in the production of high-quality seedlings to meet the needs of farmers expanding their cocoa cultivation area.

Mr. Pham Van Cuong, head of the Ngoc Dinh Cocoa Cooperative, said that cocoa beans are increasingly valuable, and farmers are investing more in cultivation and care, resulting in higher yields. This year's harvest saw a 20-30% increase in cocoa yield compared to last year. Depending on the farm, cocoa yields can reach 18-25 tons per hectare. Cocoa cultivation requires little investment, usually only a few tens of millions of VND for fertilizer and pesticides. Currently, the Ngoc Dinh Cocoa Cooperative has attracted 60 members and expanded to 80 hectares of cocoa cultivation. This model continues to attract more farmers interested in investing due to its high economic efficiency.

Cocoa can be harvested year-round, but farmers typically only harvest for nine months, dedicating the remaining three months of the rainy season to caring for and nurturing the plants. This is why this crop yields high productivity, and growers don't have to worry about crop failure or losses like with crops that only yield one crop per year. Cocoa is also less affected by weather, so the risk of crop failure is not significant. Importantly, cocoa trees are easy to grow and thrive, so even during difficult periods when farmers invest little or when droughts cause yellowing and wilting of leaves, resulting in reduced yields, the trees can still recover well with proper care.

Forming sustainable supply chains

From just a few dozen hectares of cocoa before investing in the High-Tech Cocoa Project, Trong Duc Cocoa Co., Ltd. has now developed over 700 hectares of cocoa in Dong Nai and several neighboring provinces and cities. Notably, the company's integrated cocoa cultivation, processing, and consumption chain is becoming increasingly sustainable.

Cocoa processing at Trong Duc Cocoa Company Limited, Dinh Quan district.

Pham Thanh Lap, head of the Trung Hoa Cocoa Cooperative (Trang Bom district), shared that by participating in the cocoa cultivation and consumption chain, farmers receive quality seedlings from businesses, have technical teams come to their farms to guide them in caring for and treating pests and diseases, and especially, have their products guaranteed at good prices, so that farmers can confidently commit to this crop.

Furthermore, cocoa farming cooperatives and groups participating in the Large-Scale Cocoa Project organize their own technical teams to provide services such as pruning, shaping, managing, and treating plant diseases for farmers. Since cocoa trees are typically harvested once a week, members of the cooperatives and groups meet regularly, receiving information about the market, sharing plant care techniques, and discussing plant diseases. Cocoa farmers participating in the Large-Scale Cocoa Project are also guided to switch to organic farming. In this approach, the leaves of the pruned cocoa trees are used as mulch, allowing them to decompose naturally to create organic fertilizer and improve soil moisture retention. Organic farming results in healthier trees, reducing disease outbreaks and increasing yields.

Furthermore, cocoa farmers are committed to producing safe products that meet export standards. Since the implementation of the Cocoa Standardization Project, Trong Duc Cocoa Company Limited has supported farmers in producing cocoa that meets UTZ certification – a sustainable farming program worldwide. To date, nearly 370 hectares of cocoa nationwide have achieved UTZ certification. Dong Nai is a leading province with the largest area of ​​UTZ-certified cocoa in the country, exceeding 200 hectares. This is also a reason why Dong Nai cocoa is highly valued by the global market for its quality and flavor.

According to Dang Tuong Khanh, Director of Trong Duc Cocoa Co., Ltd., farmers cannot sell cocoa beans directly at the market. Therefore, the company invested in a large-scale project, gathering farmers into cooperatives to implement a standardized production process. Besides exporting cocoa beans, the company invests in deep processing and diversifying products to increase the efficiency of this crop. Currently, the company has developed 60 processed products, including two 4-star OCOP (One Commune One Product) products and one potential 5-star OCOP product.

Plains

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/kinh-te/202504/du-an-canh-dong-lon-ca-cao-thang-lon-b457903/