Tra Vinh (VNS/VNA) - Authorities in Tra Vinh province are trying to linkup companies and farmers growing organic coconuts for mutual benefit. 

The companiescan ensure they get a steady supply of organic coconuts for processing andfarmers are guaranteed outlets and incomes. 

The MekongDelta province is the country’s second largest coconut producer after itsneighbour Ben Tre.

It has morethan 23,600ha under coconut and an annual output of 250 million nuts, accordingto its Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The departmentis encouraging companies to link up with farmers to expand organic coconutgrowing areas and make products from the nuts. 

Lam Huu Phuc, DeputyDirector of the province’s Department of Planning and Investment, said Tra Vinhhad implemented promotional activities to attract investment by coconutcompanies in Ben Tre to expand organic coconut farming and processing.

Some companiesare already in the process of tying up with organic coconut farmers in TraVinh.

The Ben TreImport and Export Joint Stock Corporation has, for instance, contracted farmerswith 1,383ha of coconuts that meet international standards in Cang Long and TieuCan districts.  

It will builda plant for semi-processing of coconut products in Tra Vinh.

The Luong QuoiCoconut Co. Ltd is investing in a 150ha organic coconut farm in Tra Vinh city.It is also tying up with a local company to develop another 1,000ha and build asemi-processing plant in Cau Ke district.

Farmers get 10 - 20 percent higher for organic nuts.

Tra Vinhtargets having 30,000ha under coconut by 2030, including 5,000ha of organiccoconuts.  

Tra Vinh issupporting farmers to control the spread of the coconut black-headedcaterpillar which has damaged 26.3ha in Tieu Can and Cang Long districts.

The pest firstappeared in the province in September last year after appearing for the firsttime in Vietnam in Ben Tre almost two years ago.

It has alsospread to the delta’s other localities like Soc Trang, Tien Giang, and KienGiang provinces and Can Tho city.

According to LeTruong Son, head of the Tra Vinh Plant Protection and Cultivation Sub-department,the pest is dangerous and could reduce yields by up to 80 percent and even killcoconut trees.

Thesub-department is helping affected coconut growing localities spray pesticidesto destroy the pest.

In the case ofageing and too tall coconut trees that farmers cannot spray, the sub-departmentwants them cut down and burnt.

The pest eatsleaves and the husk of immature coconuts.

Thesub-department has urged the people’s committees of districts and towns tospeed up advocacy and training to identify the pest and promptly eliminate it./.