Focus on developing the coconut industry

The province currently has nearly 120,000 hectares of coconut land, accounting for more than 50% of the country's coconut area, creating stable livelihoods for hundreds of thousands of households. Coconut trees have become a strategic industry with great economic potential for the province, affirming its position on the coconut map of Vietnam and the region.

Coconut product production line at Betrimex.

Sustainable and potential economic sector

Coconut trees are recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment as one of the six key national industrial crops (January 2024). In 2025, the production value of the coconut industry is expected to reach 11,000 billion VND. The growth rate is stable in the period 2020-2025. This shows that this economic sector is sustainable and has great potential, especially in the context of Vietnam promoting green agriculture and the need to adapt to climate change.

In recent years, the province's coconut industry has created a strong momentum thanks to the remarkable development of the processing industry and the ability to master science and technology of leading enterprises in the coconut industry.

The whole province has 183 enterprises operating in this field, creating jobs for more than 9,000 workers, creating a rich product chain from coconut water, coconut milk, dried shredded coconut, coconut candy to coconut shell charcoal and handicrafts.

In 2025, coconut export turnover is expected to reach 500 million USD, an increase of 2.9% compared to 2024. In particular, key products will grow by over 10% such as: desiccated coconut and coconut milk. This figure shows that international demand is expanding strongly for deeply processed agricultural products from Vinh Long.

Ben Tre Import Export Joint Stock Company (Betrimex) is the leading enterprise in the coconut industry in the province in particular and Vietnam in general; it has pioneered in applying advanced technology such as: UHT sterilization, sterile packaging or extracting pure oil by cold centrifugation technology.

“By 2025, the company will become the world leader in exporting canned coconut water. This success comes from strong investment in organic raw material areas and strict quality control according to international standards…”, said Mr. Pham Hong Duong - Deputy General Director of Betrimex.

According to Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment - Van Huu Hue, the province currently has 30,355 hectares of industrial coconut production according to organic standards (USDA, EU, China, JAS, Kora...), accounting for 25.45% of the province's total coconut area. In addition, there are 156 codes for fresh coconut growing areas (11,012 hectares) and 17 codes for coconut packaging facilities that have been granted codes by China Customs that are eligible to export to the Chinese market.

The process of renovating ineffective coconut gardens, applying technical advances and gradually forming effective production linkage models between enterprises and farmers has affirmed the ability of coconut growers to apply and master science and technology in coconut garden cultivation, helping to increase productivity.

Specifically, coconut productivity will increase steadily, from 10.98 tons/ha in 2020 to 11.95 tons/ha in 2025, higher than the average in the Mekong Delta region and the whole country; raising the total output of the province in 2025 to an estimated 1.316 million tons, an increase of more than 243,000 tons compared to 2020.

Synchronize solutions

Looking back at 15 years of coconut industry development, Mr. Chau Huu Tri - Deputy Director of the Agricultural Extension Center under the Department of Agriculture and Environment said that coconut trees have affirmed their significance and value from both economic and ecological perspectives, and in response to climate change. Although the province holds 90% of the world's coconut processing technology, in the coming time, it is still necessary to continue to innovate technology, create differences and exploit multi-values.

“It is necessary to develop more specific policies for the coconut industry; in which, the overall planning, especially for 24,000 hectares of organic coconut, needs to be re-certified in the future, while clearly assessing the practical difficulties in the implementation process…”- Mr. Tri proposed.

Coconut processing provides raw materials for factories in the province.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Pham Anh Tuan - Director of the Institute of Agricultural Mechanics and Technology, after harvest, each year, the whole country produces more than 2 million tons of coconuts, making Vietnam the fourth country in the Asia-Pacific region and fifth in the world in coconut exports. But the industry is still facing many challenges.
challenge.

To increase added value and competitiveness, Associate Professor Dr. Pham Anh Tuan said that it is necessary to clearly identify the target, key products and production scale suitable for each ecological region; evaluate investment capacity, raw material sources and consumption markets to choose a sustainable development direction. At the same time, advise and support enterprises in choosing technology, equipment and design and construction of processing factories that meet international standards, meeting the strict requirements of major markets such as the US, EU and Japan.

“The State and specialized agencies should increase support for enterprises in technical innovation, receiving international technology transfer, and connecting and cooperating with foreign enterprises. In addition, it is necessary to synthesize the needs for technological innovation to propose and implement appropriate scientific and technological tasks. From there, connect to solve problems from breeds, genes to the consumer market” - Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Anh Tuan said.

The province has identified three main pillars for developing the coconut industry: raw material areas, deep processing and value chain linkage. Mr. Van Huu Hue, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, emphasized: In the coming time, it is necessary to focus on promoting solutions revolving around these three pillars. Specifically, aiming to build specialized organic coconut growing areas that meet international standards; at the same time, strengthening research and replicating coconut varieties that are resistant to salt and drought. In addition to organic farming processes, saving water and reducing emissions, the province must focus on biological pest management, developing eco-tourism, craft villages and OCOP products associated with coconut trees, especially products from wax coconut.

Focus on attracting businesses to invest in modern technology, develop high-value products and make the most of coconut tree parts, aiming for zero-waste production. 4.0 technology will be applied in quality management, traceability and trade promotion. In addition, encourage the development of new-style cooperatives, closely linked with businesses, while strengthening trade promotion, protecting the Vinh Long coconut brand and expanding international cooperation.

Article and photos: CAM TRUC

Source: https://baovinhlong.com.vn/kinh-te/nong-nghiep/202512/tap-trung-phat-trien-nganh-dua-9de08de/