Cocoa trees are having many opportunities to develop. Photo: Dak Lak newspaper

The workshop was organized to analyze the entire scene information, including the actual situation, opportunities and developments for the cocoa sector in Binh Phuoc and the South East to help the farm manager, the policy-research paradigm shift production more efficient, bringing many benefits to farmers and the agricultural sector of the region.

According to the survey results, Binh Phuoc is the local potential to develop cocoa, with climatic conditions, suitable  land for cocoa growing and developing, with quite large area for ​​special trees (about 140.000ha) is favorable condition to develop the models province intensive farming of cocoa - cashew.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hoa, Deputy Director of Horticulture, said the intensive model of cocoa in the cashew plantation can supply water proactively is appropriate, effective solution to utilize soil conditions, especially for the current cashew production area, contributing to increased productivity and quality of cocoa, cashew, bring high income for cocoa growers. Practice has proved that provinces plant cashew, many intensive cocoa- cashew models successfully bring higher economic efficiency for farmers and increased economic value. 

It is known that in Vietnam market, fermented cocoa beans are being purchased with attractive price and stable from the beginning of the year up to now, ranged between 55,000-60,000 / kg (not including premium), increased significantly compared to 45,000 VND / kg at the end of 2013.

In fact, if cocoa is taking care with appropriate processing techniques, fertilizer, irrigation, cocoa will yield high and bring high profit. There have been many successful households with intensive model that intercrop cashew, cocoa and other crops, such as Mr. Le Xuan family in Thống Nhất commune (Bu Dang - Binh Phuoc). He intercropped 600 cocoa trees in 1ha cashew. Each year he gets about 1 ton of dried cocoa seeds, 2 tons cashew, total income above 100 million VND / year. "From day intensive cocoa cultivation - that, my family‘s income increases about 40-60 million VND / year," he said Session.

"When planting 500 caocoa trees on 1 ha cashew and intensive both trees, farmers can increase their income more than doubled, about 80 million VND / ha calculated at current prices of the two trees," Mr. Nguyen Vinh Thanh, Director of Cargill Vietnam Co. added.

Currently, Binh Phuoc has planned specific plan and implementation policies to support farmers to develop sustainable cocoa. Accordingly, guideline for cocoa development in Binh Phuoc till 2020, intensive cocoa area – cashew is about 20,000 - 30,000 ha. The province has been implementing measures to develop basic cocoa: Cocoa build the productive focus towards sustainable organic; investment in irrigation development to create irrigation water; construction of transport infrastructure, the electrical system in the region concentrated material; construction of demonstration and transfer of advanced science and technology to the farmers, and build procurement system at the local and provide price information for farmers to produce peace of mind ...

Mr. Phan Van Don, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Binh Phuoc province, assessed: "The model of intensive cocoa with canopy plantation in province over time has brought greater efficiency than plants monocultures and saves farm  land, contribute positive effects to crop restructure towards crop diversification to serve the province‘s poverty reduction" program.

With the advantages and development potential of cocoa in the province, Binh Phuoc is expected to become one of the major ingredients of cocoa in Vietnam in the future, contribute significantly to the economic- social development in the local and throughout the country.

Currently, cocoa Vietnam is having new opportunities as the demand of cocoa in the world is increasing, forecast that 2020 shortfall of about 1 million tons. Rising demand especially in populous countries – emerging market such as China, India, Indonesia ... These are the markets that Vietnam has advantages on stratergy position in providing cocoa products. Vietnam also has suitable climate and soil for cocoa. Fermentation cocoa products of Vietnam with correct process were classified in top quality in the world.

Source: kinhtenongthon.com.vna