Developing organic coconut growing areas in Tay Ninh: Paving the way for fresh coconut export

Paving the way for fresh coconut export

In the context of organic agricultural products being favored by foreign markets, the Vietnam Coconut 78 Agricultural Service Cooperative pioneered in peeling clean coconuts, attaching QR codes, building brands, and opening the way for exporting local agricultural products.

Affirming a unique brand

Amidst rows of green coconut trees in the sunny and windy land of Tay Ninh, Mr. Nguyen Van Tien - Director of the Vietnam Coconut 78 Agricultural Service Cooperative, is writing a new story for his hometown's agricultural products. The Cooperative has created the brand "Tay Ninh Peeled Coconut", pioneering the QR code for each fruit, opening the journey to bring local coconuts to the big market.

Fresh coconuts with QR codes

Holding a freshly peeled coconut, Mr. Tien shared: "Not only for refreshing, organic fresh coconuts are also valuable for health. Today's consumers prefer naturalness, so I want each coconut to be pure and safe."

At Vietnam Coconut 78 Cooperative, coconuts are grown in a completely natural environment, absolutely without the use of chemical fertilizers or synthetic pesticides. Thanks to that, the product retains its sweet taste, characteristic aroma, and high safety. However, there is still a paradox: Tay Ninh coconut is as delicious as coconut from the West, even sweeter, but to be consumed, it still has to be delivered to Dong Thap and Vinh Long for processing. This is why Mr. Tien boldly invested in a local processing facility, so that Tay Ninh coconut can enter the market with its own brand.

The market favors white, bright peeled coconut. However, instead of using strong cleaning chemicals like many other places, the cooperative chose a different way: naturally whitening with lime juice. This is from the experience of our ancestors, both disinfecting and preserving freshness.

"Limes in the West are available all year round, with abundant output and reasonable prices. We buy them and process them into distilled water for storage. When processing, the coconuts are immediately soaked in lemon solution, which both prevents bacteria and mold and helps the fruit retain its natural white color," said Mr. Tien. This method sounds simple, but it is not easy to do. At first, many agents refused because the product was not as white as the chemically treated product, but the cooperative was steadfast in its motto of "clean from the heart". "People who are used to drinking bleached products will find it strange, but when they try it, they will feel the true aroma of coconut" - Mr. Tien shared.

In particular, if in the past, Tay Ninh coconuts after harvest were only sold to traditional customers, now, each coconut of Viet Coconut Cooperative 78 carries a special identity - a QR code. Mr. Tien called it a turning point in the journey of building a brand.

With just one scan with the phone, customers can clearly know the origin of the coconut, which garden it is grown in, and how it is cared for according to organic or VietGAP processes. "I want consumers to be able to drink Tay Ninh coconut and know where this product comes from" - Mr. Tien affirmed.

Consumers can scan the QR code to know the origin of each coconut

Not only does it bring transparency, the QR code also helps the cooperative build trust with the market, raising the coconut from a common agricultural product to a product with a clear brand, which can go further to supermarkets, convenience store chains, and even export. For farmers, this is no longer a story of selling coconuts but a story of branding, building long-term value for the entire Tay Ninh raw material area.

Sharing about future plans, Mr. Tien is planning to build a preliminary processing factory right in Tay Ninh with a total investment of 5 billion VND. Currently, the cooperative is approaching the policy of Resolution No. 58 of the Government to support the development of collective economy and cooperatives to invest in infrastructure and equipment for processing. The Tay Ninh Provincial People's Committee has also recognized the project.

“Hopefully the project is approved, it will solve the output and create jobs for the people. I believe that in just a few years, Tay Ninh fresh coconut will be on par with the Western provinces because people will boldly invest when they know there is a purchasing facility right in the locality” - Mr. Tien said.

Widening the export path

Fresh coconut is a familiar tropical fruit in the global market thanks to its nutritional value and high applicability. In the context of the increasingly expanding organic agricultural product market, especially in developed countries where consumers have high income and health awareness, Vietnamese organic fresh coconut has continuously recorded strong growth in consumption. In just the past 3 years, import demand has increased by an average of 15-20%/year, opening up many opportunities for the coconut industry.

However, opportunities always go hand in hand with challenges. In fact, the massive export of fresh coconut to the Chinese market has caused many domestic processing enterprises to fall into a shortage of raw materials, even operating at a standstill. International competition is also increasingly fierce, especially with Thailand, a country that is ahead of Vietnam in terms of production costs and processing technology.

In addition, the domestic coconut industry value chain still has many shortcomings, especially in the deep processing and product diversification stages, which limits the ability to increase value and competitiveness.

Mr. Nguyen Van Tien - Director of the Vietnam Coconut Agricultural Service Cooperative 78, peeling coconuts

Dr. Tran Minh Hai - Vice Principal of the School of Public Policy and Rural Development, believes that the key to improving the export capacity of fruits in general, including coconuts, is the cooperative model. "Enterprises should link up through cooperatives to manage growing area codes, organize raw material areas and control output. Cooperatives are not only technical hubs but also strategic partners in logistics and product quality" - Dr. Tran Minh Hai emphasized.

According to Dr. Tran Minh Hai, a new trend is forming when large-scale coconut growing areas for water gradually shift to the Southeast and Central Highlands, instead of being concentrated in Dong Thap or Vinh Long. Many growing areas here have an area of ​​30-50 hectares, have been granted growing area codes, and are qualified to provide stable supply for export. However, he also noted the fundamental difference between coconut for drinking water and coconut for oil. If the wrong variety is chosen or harvested at the wrong time, coconut water can be spoiled during international transportation, causing great risks for businesses.

In parallel with the export direction, Dr. Tran Minh Hai also introduced an innovative agricultural product consumption model right in the country: organizing trucks to transport grade 2 fruits from raw material areas to sell directly at apartment buildings in Ho Chi Minh City. Each truck carries about 3 tons of coconuts and other fruits, usually sold out in just 1-2 hours. This method not only helps to release inventory, reduce pressure on farmers, but also opens up an effective trade promotion channel, which can be combined with e-commerce when supported with packaging and designs from the local Department of Industry and Trade.

It can be seen that the export of fresh coconuts from Vietnam is facing great opportunities, but to expand the path to the global market, the coconut industry needs to soon complete the value chain, and more closely connect businesses - cooperatives - farmers. Only then will Vietnamese coconuts truly have a solid and lasting position on the international market./.

By Staffs - Translated by Q. Thien

Source: https://baolongan.vn/phat-trien-vung-trong-dua-huu-co-tai-tay-ninh-mo-loi-xuat-khau-dua-tuoi-bai-cuoi--a202350.html