Mekong Delta farmers expand coconut industry through organic standards and intercropping

Agricultural development in Vietnam's Mekong Delta is focusing on sustainable coconut ecosystems and diversified farming models to boost economic value and export potential.

In Vinh Long province, which holds over 61% of the nation's coconut area, authorities are transitioning toward organic standards to meet US, EU, and Japanese requirements. The Asia Raw Material Group is supporting this shift by providing technical assistance and production materials to over 19,000 farming households across 18 communes. The province aims to establish a green, circular, and modern coconut industry through 2045.

In Dong Thap province, farmers are increasingly adopting an intercropping model by planting cacao within coconut groves. This method utilizes the shade provided by coconut trees to maximize land use and create additional income streams. While previous attempts at organic cacao cultivation faced challenges due to unstable market outlets, the presence of the Xuan Ron Cho Gao Cocoa Co., Ltd. processing plant has revitalized interest. Local authorities are now planning to expand this cacao-coconut intercropping model to over 3,000 hectares to diversify local livelihoods.