A farmer tends an orchard that grows coconuts in Đồng Tháp Province’s Bình Ninh Commune. — VNA/VNS Photo Hữu Chí

ĐỒNG THÁP — Bình Ninh Commune is emerging as a leading producer of organic coconuts in Đồng Tháp Province, helping raise product value, secure stable markets and boost farmers' incomes through links with processors and exporters.

It has one of the province's largest coconut-growing areas and has become a model for developing organic production linked to processing and export markets.

Đồng Tháp has more than 24,113ha of coconut plantations, with an annual output of around 203,770 tonnes.

To maximise potential, the province is encouraging farmers to adopt advanced farming techniques and shift to organic cultivation to meet export market requirements.

Among its localities, Bình Ninh has taken the lead in growing organic coconut and building a sustainable value chain for the sector.

Dương Thanh Trung, deputy chairman of the Bình Ninh People's Committee, said the commune has more than 2,626ha of coconut plantations, including 915ha with organic certification that are delivering steady yields.

It also has 14.89ha certified as meeting Vietnamese good agricultural practices (VietGAP) standards.

The local People's Committee has instructed its Economic Office to provide technical guidance and technologies to farmers.

Numerous training courses have been organised to guide farmers in organic production, the use of organic fertilisers and biological crop protection products, record-keeping, traceability requirements and the prohibition of banned substances.

Supporting farmers throughout the transition, the Bình Ninh Agricultural Co-operative has actively encouraged members to adopt organic production and helped establish a raw material area for export-oriented processing.

Co-operative's director Phan Minh Tuấn said more farmers have embraced organic production after seeing its proven benefits.

So far, 915ha have received organic certification recognised by the agricultural processing plant of Thabico Tien Giang Food Industry Joint Stock Company.

The coconuts are collected by the co-operative and delivered to the company, a linkage model that provides a stable market for farmers and gives them confidence to invest in long-term production.

Thabico has invested in a fruit and coconut processing plant in the commune with a daily capacity of 300,000 coconuts.

Phạm Văn Nghệ, a local farmer who has switched to organic production on his one hectare of coconut orchard, said the model has delivered clear benefits.

"After receiving technical training and switching to organic cultivation, both the yield and quality of coconuts have improved compared with traditional farming methods. 

"Organic coconuts have a stable market because they are purchased by the co-operative. The economic returns are very positive."

Workers sort semi-processed dried coconuts for export. — VNA/VNS Photo Hữu Chí

Trần Hoàng Nhật Nam, secretary of the commune Party Committee, said: "The commune will develop specialised coconut-growing areas, strengthen the value chain and expand exports."

At the provincial level, Đồng Tháp has identified the coconut as one of the keys in its strategy to develop agricultural processing.

Lê Hà Luân, director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment, said Đồng Tháp targets becoming one of the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta's leading agricultural processing hubs.

Agricultural processing, including of coconut products, has been identified as a key growth sector, with efforts focused on building integrated value chains from raw material production to processing and consumption.

One of the province's priorities is developing sustainable raw material areas through concentrated farming zones that meet VietGAP and organic standards while maintaining close links with processing plants.

The province has established concentrated coconut-growing areas in Bình Ninh, An Thạnh Thủy and Chợ Gạo communes, covering nearly 7,700ha, up more than 890ha from last year.

The wider application of science and technology has helped increase coconut yields from 22 tonnes per hectare a year to 24 tonnes. — VNS