The southeastern province of Dong Nai expects to grow an additional 500ha of cocoa by 2018, bringing the total area of cocoa in the province to 1,000ha.
The southeastern province of Dong Nai expects to grow an additional 500ha of cocoa by 2018, bringing the total area of cocoa in the province to 1,000ha.
The province’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said it was implementing six large-scale cocoa fields.
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| Tourists visit a cocoa farm owned by Trong Duc Cocoa Company. |
Nguyen Huu Dinh, the head of the province’s Rural Development Sub-department, said besides implementing large-scale cocoa fields, the province has also provided farming techniques, loans and fertiliser to farmers.
The province’s cocoa productivity has increased to 10 tonnes per ha.
Trong Du Cocoa Co, which takes part in a large-scale field project, has signed purchase of long-term contracts with farmers to guarantee cocoa outlets.
The company buys cocoa at a price of more than VND6,000 per kg (US$0.28), higher than the market price. Purchase price may change based on the market price.
Cocoa trees are easy to grow, have less disease and can be harvested in more than 10 years, according to cocoa farmers in Dong Nai Province’s Dinh Quan District.
The total investment for one ha of cocoa is about VND20 million ($900) and the profit will be VNĐ50 million ($2,240) a year, they said.
This year, Dong Nai farmers will grow 200,000 cocoa trees on 250ha, according to Dang Tưong Khanh, the director of Trong Duc Cocoa Co.
The company’s products from cocoa, which include chocolate and wine, are exported to South Korea and Japan.
(Source:VNS)
