The Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre, the leading region for coconut cultivation in Vietnam, is gearing up to commence fresh coconut exports to China following the recent agreement on phytosanitary requirements. This development is expected to enhance the province's position in the global coconut market.
With an extensive coconut cultivation area exceeding 79,000 hectares and an annual production surpassing 700 million fruits, Ben Tre contributes significantly to Vietnam's coconut exports, generating over 400 million USD annually. The province has established 133 growing areas that align with the newly signed protocol's production conditions, involving over 12,800 households across nearly 8,400 hectares.
The local coconut industry includes 32 cooperatives and 34 cooperative groups, managing over 10,000 hectares and engaging 7,048 members. Notably, 20,400 hectares of this cultivation area adhere to organic standards recognized by major global markets, including the US, the European Union, and China.
Tran Ngoc Tam, Chairman of the Ben Tre Provincial People's Committee, highlighted the province's commitment to attracting investment and applying advanced science and technology in production and processing to meet both domestic and international market demands. The province has initiated several strategies to optimize coconut cultivation value and develop a sustainable value chain for the 2021-2025 period, with plans extending to 2030.
For the 2024-2025 period, Ben Tre aims to maintain its coconut cultivation area while increasing the proportion of organic coconuts to 20,000 hectares. The province anticipates a significant growth in the value of coconut processing and a substantial rise in export turnover, targeting 1 billion USD. The following five years will see efforts to expand the coconut cultivation area and enhance organic coconut production, with a goal to double the export turnover to about 2 billion USD.
Source: Vietnam+