Cocoa growers are excited because cocoa prices are at record levels.

Due to the impact of climate change, cocoa trees in the country as well as in the world have reduced productivity, leading to a shortage of supply. From 2024 to now, the price of cocoa has increased sharply, 3 times higher than in 2023, from 5,500 VND/kg to 17,000 VND/kg. With the current price of cocoa, farmers growing this tree are very excited. Mr. Vo Van Nhan (60 years old, residing in Tan Hoa hamlet, Xuan Dong commune, Cho Gao district, Tien Giang province) has 10 hectares of garden land growing 160 coconut trees and 450 cocoa trees. Every week, traders come to the garden to buy, he earns an income of about 5 million VND. For coconut trees, he harvests one thousand coconuts (1,200 fruits) once a month, selling for 15-20 million VND. The total income of Mr. Nhan's family ranges from 35-40 million VND/month. “Both coconut and cocoa are easy to care for, require little effort, and do not require much fertilizer or pesticides. Prices are currently at a very good level, three times higher than before, and have remained stable for the past six months,” Mr. Nhan said excitedly.

According to Ms. Doan Thi Tuyet Nhung, Deputy Director of Mekong Cocoa Company Limited (Tra Noc Hamlet, Song Loc Commune, Chau Thanh District, Tra Vinh Province), high demand but low supply has caused world cocoa prices to increase sharply. Moreover, Vietnam has a source of clean cocoa materials, so it is very popular with international customers. "Currently, Mekong Cocoa Company has cooperated with local people to purchase dozens of hectares of cocoa. Not only businesses see the potential of this crop, in Tra Vinh, the local government has also built a pilot planting model that has shown quite good results, so it also encourages farmers to expand the planting area," Ms. Nhung shared.

In the Mekong Delta, cocoa is considered a crop that adapts well to saltwater intrusion. It is widely grown in the provinces of Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Tra Vinh, Vinh Long, and Soc Trang. There are two popular cocoa growing models: monoculture and intercropping with coconut trees. Many businesses have cooperated with farmers to build standard raw material areas for export. At Tich Khanh Agricultural Cooperative (HTX), Tra On town, Tra On district, Vinh Long province, cocoa growers have won big this year. In order to meet the demand for cocoa beans from businesses, the Cooperative decided to expand the growing area. In 2024, the Cooperative provided 4,533 seedlings to 40 new planting households in Tich Thien and Tan My communes (Tra On district, Vinh Long province) and expanded to An Phu Tan commune (Cau Ke district, Tra Vinh province). Up to now, the cooperative's cocoa growing area has reached 130 hectares with an average yield of 11 tons/ha. In 2025, the cooperative plans to expand the cocoa growing area by another 200 hectares.

Mr. Tran Huu Phuc, Tan My commune, Tra On district, Vinh Long province, has 1 hectare of coconut garden land. Realizing the potential of cocoa, he plans to choose it for intercropping. “For the past few years, the price of orange trees has been unstable. I have switched to growing coconut trees. Now I plan to choose cocoa trees for intercropping because this tree is very suitable for intercropping and the price is also stable,” said Mr. Phuc.

In recent times, under the influence of saline intrusion and market fluctuations, cocoa plantations in the Mekong Delta have been continuously expanding their acreage, demonstrating their strong vitality and the economic efficiency they bring to farmers. Cocoa promises to be an effective crop to help develop household economies in these areas.

Article and photos: NGUYEN TRINH

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/gia-ca-cao-tang-ky-luc-nha-vuon-phan-khoi-a186044.html