Dry coconuts are transported to markets Bình Ninh Commune, Đồng Tháp Province. — VNA/VNS Photo Công Trí

ĐỒNG THÁP — After months of strong prices, raw dry coconut prices in Đồng Tháp have sharply declined, pushing growers close to break-even as production costs remain high.

Farmers in coconut-growing areas say prices have dropped to near “rock bottom” levels, leaving little or no profit once expenses for fertiliser, care, and harvesting labour are factored in.

Trần Thị Hồng Nga, who farms more than one hectare of coconuts in Bình Ninh Commune, said her latest harvest brought in just VNĐ60,000 per dozen coconuts – down VNĐ30,000 from last month and more than VNĐ150,000 compared with three months ago.

“Production costs have not fallen, but the selling price keeps dropping,” Nga said. “Farmers earn almost nothing.”

According to trader Nguyễn Văn Thanh in Bình Ninh, the steep decline is driven by surplus supply as harvest season begins, while market demand – particularly exports – remains sluggish.

“Output is plentiful at the farm gate, but consumption and exports are struggling,” Thanh said.

Local processors confirm that inventory levels remain high and export orders to China and Middle Eastern markets have slowed compared to last year.

In response, Đồng Tháp’s agricultural sector is advising farmers not to expand their coconut cultivation areas and instead focus on improving fruit quality and strengthening production–consumption linkages to stabilise markets.

Trần Hoàng Nhật Nam, Party secretary and chairman of Bình Ninh Commune People’s Committee, said the locality is working to maximise the potential of coconut as a commercial crop.

The commune continues encouraging farmers to apply intensive farming techniques and adopt organic practices to enhance market value.

Bình Ninh currently has 30 hectares of coconuts certified under VietGAP or GlobalGAP standards, along with 78 cooperative groups, six cooperatives, four processing firms and 30 purchasing and preliminary processing facilities.

One bright spot is the presence of Tiền Giang-based Thabico Food Industry JSC, which has invested in a coconut processing plant in Bình Ninh with a capacity of 300,000 coconuts per day. The company has pledged to purchase organic coconuts from local growers.

According to the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Đồng Tháp currently has more than 25,000 hectares of coconut plantations, concentrated in the eastern districts of the Gò Công freshwater zone, with annual output estimated at 416,000 tonnes.

When coconut groves reach stable bearing age, farmers earn average profits of about VNĐ91 million per hectare per year, the department said.

Looking ahead, Đồng Tháp authorities plan to strengthen value-chain linkages from production to consumption, develop more cooperatives, expand supply-demand connectivity, and promote trade to ensure stable incomes for farmers.

Dry coconut is a key raw material used to produce coconut oil, coconut cream, and export-grade products, forming a critical component of the province’s crop structure.

The agriculture sector is now coordinating with processors and cooperatives to stabilise purchasing prices and seek broader market outlets to help coconut farmers weather the downturn. — VNS