Final part: Integration into the global value chain

With stable links to raw material production areas and stable industrial production, export businesses wanting to integrate deeply into the global value chain have quickly restructured their growth models, focusing on managing and operating the coconut production chain in an organic and circular manner for sustainable development. The initial results of the province's coconut industry have affirmed the correctness, adaptability, flexibility, and suitability in line with the spirit and direction of the 14th Party Congress and global trends.

Once stable links to raw material production areas and industrial production have been established, export businesses seeking to integrate deeply into the global value chain have quickly restructured their growth models, focusing on managing and operating the coconut production chain in an organic and circular manner for sustainable development.

The initial results of the province's coconut industry have affirmed its correctness, adaptability, flexibility, and suitability to the spirit and direction of the 14th Party Congress and global trends.

Many coconut products from the province meet OCOP standards of 3 to 5 stars.

Sustainable growth model

Several models of green production, circular economy , and ecological agriculture in the coconut industry have begun to take shape, creating a foundation for the transformation of the growth model. Ben Tre Import-Export Joint Stock Company (Betrimex) is one of the leading and pioneering enterprises in building organic coconut raw material areas in the province towards sustainable development.

Returning to the story of Hung Le Fair Agricultural Service Cooperative (Hung Nhuong commune), from the very beginning, Betrimex has had a close partnership with the cooperative, aiming to build an organic raw material area that meets export standards. Starting with just 36 members, the cooperative has now grown significantly to 567 members, with a total organic coconut cultivation area of ​​over 765 hectares. This confirms the correctness and effectiveness of the model.

A key advantage of participating in the cooperative is that farmers will receive in-depth training on production techniques according to USDA Organic standards, meeting the requirements for export to Europe and the United States. USDA Organic is a prestigious organic certification from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, confirming that products contain at least 95% organic ingredients and do not use synthetic fertilizers, banned pesticides, or genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Mr. Nguyen Cuong Dung, Head of Agricultural Procurement at Betrimex, stated: "Organic production linkages are key to opening the door for Vietnamese coconuts to enter major markets such as the US, EU, and Japan. This is a 'passport' to the world , bringing practical benefits to the agricultural ecosystem. At the same time, eliminating chemicals helps improve soil quality and protect the health of both producers and the community."

Farmer Nguyen Van Trai, who has been involved with coconut cultivation for over 40 years and is a member of the Hung Le Fair Agricultural Service Cooperative, enthusiastically stated: “Organic coconut farming has immediate benefits in terms of environmental protection and safeguarding human health from harmful chemicals. Economically, organic coconuts offer stable and higher quality and yield compared to inorganic coconuts, and the company guarantees to purchase them at a price 5-15% higher than the market price, helping farmers stabilize their income and improve their living standards…”

“In addition to purchasing coconuts at stable prices, the company also allocates a portion annually to directly support the cooperative in implementing community development programs. In 2025 alone, the cooperative's welfare fund contributed approximately 1.2 billion VND to the construction of rural roads and many social welfare activities in the locality, such as: awarding scholarships to students, giving gifts to poor and near-poor households, supporting the demolition of dilapidated houses, assisting people with incurable diseases, donating freshwater tanks, garbage bins, organic fertilizer, etc.,” said Mr. Nguyen Van Chuc, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hung Le Fair Agricultural Service Cooperative.

“In the coming time, Betrimex will strengthen organic farming for farmers, developing a linked chain from raw material areas to processing, circular, and low-emission. The goal is to develop organic farming on 30,000 hectares by 2030 and take advantage of new regulations on carbon certification to increase income for farmers,” Mr. Nguyen Cuong Dung affirmed.

Building the province's coconut brand.

The Resolution of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam for the first time established green transformation and circular economy as important strategic directions of the new growth model. Accordingly, it goes beyond simply encouraging environmental protection or resource conservation, emphasizing the need to restructure the entire industry and development space towards a green, circular, and low-emission direction.

Coconut trees grown for drinking water are cultivated according to organic standards in Phu Tuc commune.

The Resolution of the First Provincial Party Congress for the 2025-2030 term clearly outlines the goal for 2030: to promote green transformation, circular economy, digital transformation, and the strong application of science and technology in production. Promoting innovation in the growth model is one of the key solutions. Simultaneously, the province will effectively implement the Politburo's key resolutions; in particular, focusing on concretizing the tasks and breakthrough solutions outlined in Politburo Resolutions No. 57-NQ/TW and No. 68-NQ/TW, which are identified as the province's breakthrough areas.

According to Le Van Dung, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, the province currently has over 30,000 hectares of coconut plantations certified as organic, with an average organic coconut yield of approximately 337.8 million fruits. Currently, organic coconut growing areas apply international organic standards such as those of the United States (USDA), Japan (JAS), the European Union (EU), and a small area applies organic standards from China and South Korea (KOR).
Taiwan…

Simultaneously, the management and monitoring of data on growing areas, growing area codes, and packaging facilities are carried out according to regulations. Through the inspection and monitoring process, most growing areas and packaging facilities comply with the regulations of Vietnam and importing countries, and maintain complete records at the growing areas as required for an export-oriented growing area. This is also an initial result in data management and digital transformation in the coconut industry.

Based on existing potential and strengths, and with a resolute spirit in implementing the Resolutions of the Party Congress at all levels, from the beginning of 2026, the Provincial People's Committee has focused on implementing a comprehensive set of solutions.

Accordingly, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Chau Van Hoa, has regularly chaired meetings with localities with coconut-growing areas in the province, coconut industry businesses and cooperatives, and relevant departments, agencies, and associations. The aim is to build, strengthen, and tighten linkages within the coconut value chain, linked to the roadmap for transforming production towards safe and organic farming in each commune and ward with coconut-growing areas. This is considered a concrete action to implement the resolutions of the Party Congress at all levels, as well as demonstrating the decisiveness in implementing the coconut industry development program, contributing to the province's goal of double-digit economic growth.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Chau Van Hoa, suggested that coconut cooperatives and businesses develop projects to receive support from Decree No. 98/2018/ND-CP, including: support of up to 30% of the investment costs for machinery, processing infrastructure, and cold storage; support of 100% of the costs for consulting on linkages and technical training for cooperative members; support for the cost of building quality certifications (VietGAP, GlobalGAP, organic), as well as focusing on building the provincial coconut brand to develop the domestic market and the Vietnamese coconut brand, and expand into international markets.

The Department of Agriculture and Environment, in coordination with research institutes and universities, will select and transfer high-quality coconut varieties with high productivity, quality, and economic value, suitable for local production conditions, resistant to pests and diseases, adaptable to climate change, and meeting market demands; manage seed production, and establish standards for coconut varieties. Businesses and cooperatives need to coordinate with local authorities to register linked farming areas, convert to organic farming, and establish planting area codes according to the requirements of importing countries.

The goal is to develop an additional 13,000 hectares of organic coconut plantations in the province by the end of 2026, bringing the cumulative total to over 44,000 hectares out of 122,000 hectares of coconut plantations. Simultaneously, the aim is to achieve over 70% of coconuts sold through contracts with businesses by 2030, ensuring stable income and livelihoods for coconut farmers.

Text and photos: CAM TRUC

Source: https://baovinhlong.com.vn/kinh-te/202605/mo-nut-that-chuoi-gia-tri-nganh-dua-ky-cuoi-hoi-nhap-vao-chuoi-gia-tri-toan-cau-b7a098d/