For the past 2 years, regularly 3 times a month, Ms. Le Thi Xung in My Phuoc commune (My Tu district, Soc Trang province) goes to the forest next to her house to harvest water coconut bunches.
Ms. Xung said that to get fresh and delicious coconuts, she has to row a boat along small canals and streams, then test each bunch of coconuts. She only cuts down the ones with thick, soft flesh, and leaves the unripe ones to wait for the next harvest.
“Previously, I only cut these leaves to use as roofing material or to sell to anyone who wanted to buy them. In recent years, the demand for leaves has not been high, and prices are low, so we have lost money. Thanks to developing a drink from water coconut, I have been able to make more money,” said Ms. Xung.
Ms. Xung said that now every 2-3 days she delivers 20 kg of coconut rice at a price of 30,000 - 40,000 VND/kg, earning about 600,000 VND. Thanks to that, her family's life is less difficult.
Mr. Huynh Van Canh - a household selling water coconut rice in My Phuoc commune (My Tu district, Soc Trang province) - said that for the past 4 years, selling water coconut has been the main source of income for his family.
"Previously, coconut rice was used as a common snack, and few people bought and sold it. But now there is a lot of demand. Currently, my family sells 30-40 kg of coconut rice every day, earning about 1 million VND," said Mr. Canh.
"Thanks to the market's preference, especially for fruits that grow naturally without the need for fertilizers or pesticides, many households' lives have become better off, some have escaped poverty and built spacious houses," said Ms. Nguyen Thi Hanh, a household specializing in the water coconut business.
Currently, My Phuoc commune (My Tu district, Soc Trang province) has 60 - 70 households engaged in the profession of cutting and selling water coconut meat. The locality has also established a Cooperative Group for water coconut consumption with 16 participating members. The People's Committee of My Phuoc commune is orienting the development of OCOP products from water coconut meat.
Ms. Le Thi Nga - Head of the Cooperative Group for the Consumption of Water Coconuts in My Phuoc Commune - said that 16 members are participating in exploiting over 100 hectares of water coconuts available to their families. Some households have signed contracts to lease land from My Phuoc Forestry Farm for exploitation at a price of 100,000 VND/1,000m2/year.
“Initially, the women’s lives were very difficult and hard, but after joining the group and working in the profession, most of them have overcome their difficulties and stabilized their lives. They also received support to borrow capital to buy more boats, engines, and rent leaves to exploit the water coconut clusters,” Ms. Nga informed.
