Ms. Chau Ngoc Diu promotes products at trade fairs both domestically and internationally. Photo: Hanh Chau
Contributing to the enhancement of the value of traditional palm sugar products of the Khmer people in the Bay Nui region, for many years, Ms. Chau Ngoc Diu, residing in Hamlet 1, Tri Ton commune, has produced palm sugar syrup certified by USDA (USA), Canada Organic (USCOEA), and EU Organic, exporting revenue exceeding 2 billion VND per year. Her thick palm sugar syrup has achieved a 4-star OCOP (One Commune One Product) rating. The secret to maintaining her product's competitive edge over similar products is her traditional method of cooking palm sugar syrup using rosewood, without food additives or mixing. The products are completely pure, natural, fragrant, and subtly sweet, especially retaining the full aroma, distinctive flavor, and valuable properties of palm sugar syrup.
Ms. Dịu recounted: “Starting from a small business, in 2017, I and two friends pooled our capital to open Palmania Joint Stock Company, successfully developing many products from palm sugar such as: palm sugar syrup in liquid, powder, and granular forms, and canned fresh palm sugar juice. In 2020, I entered the palm sugar syrup into the Great Taste Awards competition held in the UK, and proudly won a 2-star award, becoming the first Vietnamese powdered palm sugar syrup product to win an award. After that, I won a series of awards such as: First prize in the An Giang province creative startup idea competition, third prize in the Startup Wheel startup competition and the Mekong Delta region startup competition.”
Recently, Ms. Dịu signed a contract to purchase all the pure palm sap from 15 farming households, covering approximately 300 palm trees. She buys the sap at twice the market price, investing in and improving the cooking equipment and tools for the farmers. Each day, the farming households harvest the sap twice, supplying the purchasing company with an average of about 1,200 liters of fresh sap. The harvested palm sap is immediately cooked into thick palm syrup.
Ms. Neáng Chen, residing in Ninh Thuận hamlet, Ô Lâm commune, shared: “My family has 55 palm trees, providing an average of 160 liters of palm sap per day to Ms. Dịu, helping to increase our family income and ensuring a stable market.” “The company also supports us with tools for harvesting and producing palm sap, and especially provides interest-free loans to help us prepare for the production season or invest in our lives and health… This amount is repaid gradually when we supply palm sap or sugar. The payments are divided into small amounts, spread evenly throughout the production season, which is very convenient for farmers,” shared Mr. Chau Ra, a household participating in the contract.
Recognizing the potential of palm sugar, many businesses have joined forces to enhance the product's value. An Giang Fruit and Vegetable Foodstuff Joint Stock Company (Antesco), located in Long Xuyen ward, has launched canned palm sugar products for domestic consumption and export. Bay Nui Bird's Nest Company Limited, located in Tinh Bien ward, offers palm sugar jam, palm sugar nectar, palm sugar syrup, etc. In Thoi Son ward, Ngoc Trang Palm Sugar Production Facility was established very early and, after 12 years, has grown into Ngoc Trang Limited Company. Ms. Pham Thi Ngoc Trang, the company's director, said: "Recognizing the promising potential, since 1997, my family has established a palm sugar production facility, purchasing and distributing large quantities of palm sugar from farmers in the surrounding area."
To date, Ngoc Trang Limited Company produces many palm sugar products in powder, packet, paste, and tablet forms. Their 1kg paste palm sugar product has achieved OCOP 3-star rating. "We replaced old equipment and machinery in the sugar production area with new 304 stainless steel equipment, improving the process from manual to machine-based, thereby increasing both production volume and quality," Ms. Trang shared.
Currently, 80% of products made from organic palm trees are being consumed by businesses in partnership with the company. Profits from organic products are expected to be 1.5 to 2 times higher than those from traditional harvesting methods.
Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/vi-ngot-thot-not-vung-bien-a469732.html
Comment (0)