On his farm, Mr. Nguyen Quang Tai's family previously grew coffee and rubber trees. In 2017, he began switching to growing fruit trees such as oranges, pomelos, jackfruit, and guavas. In 2020, recognizing the increasing demand for coconuts, and the lack of large-scale coconut plantations in the former Quang Tri province, Mr. Tai researched and experimented with a commercial coconut farming model. He decided to invest over 100 million VND to renovate the farm area, prepare the land, and install an irrigation system.
Later, he purchased 1,000 seedlings (dwarf Siamese coconut and red Siamese coconut) from Hanoi University of Agriculture 1 and planted them organically. During the planting and care process, Mr. Tài focused on ensuring adherence to proper technical procedures. Through observation, he found that the coconut trees adapted well to the local climate and soil conditions; the 4 hectares of coconut trees planted achieved a 100% survival rate and showed stable growth and development.
Speaking about this relatively new crop in the area, Mr. Tai said that coconut trees are suitable for cultivation in Vinh Linh commune as well as neighboring localities. In reality, given the current difficulties in agricultural production, when considering planting a new crop, farmers often worry about many adverse impacts, such as: weather, especially the frequent storms and floods in recent years; plant diseases causing low yields, production, and quality; and an unstable market with fluctuating prices.
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| Mr. Nguyen Quang Tai harvests coconuts to sell wholesale to traders who come to the farm to buy them - Photo: NT |
“Compared to other crops, I find that coconut trees have mitigated those adverse effects. Because coconut trees have a fibrous root system that penetrates deep and spreads widely in the soil, and a sturdy, unbranched trunk, they rarely suffer from root rot, uprooting, or falling even during storms and floods. Coconut trees are also less susceptible to pests and diseases; you only need to pay attention to importing high-quality seedlings and adhering to proper planting, care, and disease prevention techniques in the early stages. The older the tree, the less effort it requires to care for. As for the market, coconuts are widely consumed, with purchase prices gradually increasing recently to 10,000-15,000 VND per fruit. For more than 10 years, there hasn't been a year when coconut prices have dropped. Especially, a coconut tree is planted once but yields harvests for decades,” Mr. Tai said.
After a period of focused care, in early 2024, Mr. Tai's coconut garden began to bear its first fruits. From 2025 onwards, his family entered the period of simultaneous harvesting. The coconuts from Mr. Tai's farm are purchased on-site by traders, and his family also directly transports them wholesale to markets and beverage businesses in several communes and wards near Vinh Linh commune.
Mr. Tai said: “According to traders, the coconuts at my family's farm have a lot of water, and the sweetness of the coconut water is comparable to coconuts imported from other coconut-growing regions. Initial calculations show that, with an average yield of nearly 100 coconuts per tree per year, and a selling price of only 10,000 VND per coconut, my family earns nearly 1 billion VND from these 1,000 coconut trees. After deducting all expenses, the profit is approximately 500 million VND.”
According to Ms. Ha Thi Hue, Chairwoman of the Farmers' Association of Vinh Linh commune, the 4-hectare coconut plantation model, and the 8-hectare integrated farm combining fruit trees and livestock (10,000 contracted chickens and 750 square meters for raising snakehead and catfish) at Mr. Nguyen Quang Tai's household, is a typical example of a successful agricultural model. This model exemplifies how farmers leverage agricultural strengths, consolidate land, proactively learn, and flexibly grasp market trends to invest in transforming crop and livestock structures towards organic, commercial farming, and establishing links with businesses to ensure more stable output and product prices. "Mr. Tai's effective economic model not only increases household income and creates jobs but also contributes to spreading the movement of farmers determined to innovate, create, and conduct efficient production and business in the new situation right here in the locality," Ms. Hue said.
Duc Viet - Nguyen Trang
Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/kinh-te/202601/thu-nhap-cao-tu-vuon-dua-xiem-69a51dc/
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