Increasing competitive advantage for Vietnamese coconuts

Price fresh coconut record high

Recorded in the coconut "capital" of Ben Tre, the purchase price of fresh coconuts in the garden last week reached 220,000 VND/12 fruits, 4 times higher than the same period last year - an unprecedented high price in many years. Green coconuts are currently in demand in both domestic and international markets.

According to traders, the main reason for the increase in green coconut prices is due to hot weather, the high demand for fresh coconut water in the market, leading to coconut shortages. Although coconut prices have increased, coconut output has decreased sharply, many coconut gardens only achieved about 50% of the yield compared to last year. In addition to the impact of saltwater intrusion, black-headed caterpillars are currently a major threat to coconut growers in this locality, seriously affecting the yield of the gardens not only this season but also the following seasons.

Green production - The survival direction of the coconut industry

It can be seen that in the context of climate change and disease threatening crops, shifting to sustainable farming and strictly following disease prevention measures is an inevitable direction.

Ben Tre is maintaining and developing 20,000 hectares of organic coconut, along with 2,000 hectares of growing areas that are eligible for codes to serve processing and export. This is a transition period for both farmers and the local agricultural sector, towards green transformation.

Need a strategy for sustainable coconut industry development

At the age of 70, Mr. Tieu himself did not dare to think that he would take a new path, a path that he still calls finding vitality for the coconut garden. Fallen coconuts are now collected to limit harmful microorganisms that follow the water and cause disease in the whole garden. Dry coconut leaves retain moisture and enrich the soil with nutrients when they decompose. Doing it this way, the yield is reduced, but the soil will be more durable and healthy.

Mr. Tieu is not alone on his path, but is always accompanied by technical staff from the affiliated unit, because to convert to an organic coconut garden, it is necessary to change farming habits. For example, clearing weeds and not using herbicides, because only then can we create a living environment for beneficial natural enemies to thrive.

The process of converting to farming not only requires technical advice but also capital support to renovate the garden. In Ben Tre, households that cultivate green and convert to clean production are supported with preferential loans. A credit unit has lent coconut production and purchasing households up to 160 billion VND in 2024. This not only helps farmers to quickly rotate capital but also creates more solidity for the chain link.

With large biomass, coconut trees have the ability to absorb a large amount of CO2 from the atmosphere, so they are chosen as the main crop for Ben Tre to move towards the net zero goal.

Need a strategy for sustainable coconut industry development

Previously, fresh Ben Tre coconuts were mainly consumed domestically, through traders supplying to Ho Chi Minh City and other provinces and cities in the country. Recently, this product has begun to be exported, opening up new opportunities for the coconut industry. Thanks to the expansion of markets, coconut export turnover increased to 1 billion USD last year, a huge step up from 180 million USD 4 years earlier.

The advantage of Vietnamese coconut lies in its outstanding coconut varieties, with a distinctive flavor that is popular in the US and China. To exploit it to the fullest, the industry needs to promote chain production, connecting farmers with businesses through long-term contracts. In addition, investing in modern logistics and processing technology will help reduce transportation costs and extend storage time, to increase the competitive advantage of fresh coconuts. Protecting the brand through traceability and building international standard raw material areas will be the basis for our coconuts to expand to new markets such as Europe and the Middle East as well as demanding markets such as the US and EU.

In particular, the recent shortage of raw materials has not only caused many coconut processing factories to operate at a standstill, but also forced some businesses to temporarily suspend coconut exports. A strategy for sustainable raw material development is an urgent issue.

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/tang-them-loi-the-canh-tranh-cho-dua-viet-nam-3357671.html