(ĐN)- Currently, the price of cacao fruit is at VND5,000-5,200 VND a kilo, an increase of VND2,000 against the same period of last year.
(ĐN)- Currently, the price of cacao fruit is at VND5,000-5,200 VND a kilo, an increase of VND2,000 against the same period of last year. The price is estimated to be higher as global supplies are experiencing the longest production shortfall in the past five decades, according to the International Cocoa Organisation (ICO).
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| Mr Tran Van Banh, a cocoa farmer in Thong Nhat, is harvesting cocoa. |
However, the cocoa plantation area in Dong Nai has decreased to 880 ha from 1,000 ha in 2012, reported Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Compared to other industrial trees like coffee, cashew and rubber, cocoa is still a new tree for most farmers in the province. Local cocoa growers don't know much about cocoa farming techniques or how to apply proper fertilisers, so their cocoa offered very low yield. When the price of cacao fell significantly, many local farmers cut down cacao trees to grow other fruits.
As the world has a soaring demand for cocoa while supply is shrinking due to climate change, Vietnam has an opportunity to penetrate the world cocoa market. Cacao planting has therefore seen its potential.
Small-scale cultivation, lack of farming expertise, pests and diseases hindered stable cocoa development in the province.
Presently, local cocoa growers are advised to learn how to improve their cocoa crop. The important thing is that farmers should use proper farming techniques to achieve high yields. Local enterprises are also making efforts to strengthen sustainable development of cacao, help the growers to get training, provide technical support to raise the capacity of farmers in hope to increase the output and quality of cocoa, and expand market access.
Reported by B.N
