Dried coconut prices hit a peak, farmers regret fruitless gardens

Having just sold more than half of the natural coconut (1 natural coconut = 1,200 fruits), Ms. Huynh Thi Tuyen in An Thanh Dong commune (Cu Lao Dung district, Soc Trang province) shared: "I have been attached to coconut trees for many years, but this is the first time I have seen coconut prices increase to a record level and be sought after by traders like now. If in the same period last year, the price of dried coconuts purchased by traders was only a few tens of thousands of VND/tester, now it has skyrocketed to 180,000 VND/tester (12 fruits)".

Also in Cu Lao Dung district (Soc Trang province), Mr. Le Phuoc Hung has more than 1.5 hectares of over 20 years old coconut. This is a pillar economic source of Mr. Hung's family: "In recent years, all household expenses have been based on monthly coconut sales. Therefore, when coconut prices increase, we farmers are very excited because we have a significant income, a better life and accumulation conditions. More than a month ago, I sold it for 177,000 VND/tester, and my income was nearly ten million VND".

Mr. Hung added that at the time of the peak harvest, his coconut garden could produce more than 1 wild coconut per batch, but now it has decreased to about 80% because it is the end of the season. Mr. Hung assessed that coconut prices are likely to remain high because around September and October is the main harvest time. Currently, his family is actively taking care of the garden to welcome the next generation of fruits.

However, not every gardener is lucky enough to have coconuts to sell at this time of high prices. Mr. Nguyen Van Bat, a farmer in Cu Lao Dung district (Soc Trang province), said that his coconut garden has just finished the harvest and it will take about 3 or 4 months to harvest the new batch: "More than a month ago, I sold the last batch of coconut for 160,000 VND/tes. Currently, the price has increased by 20,000 VND/dozen, this price is too attractive but unfortunately, there are no more dried coconuts for sale in the home garden".

Mr. Phan Van Men - representative of Tan Hoi Mo Cay Investment and Trading Company Limited (Ben Tre province), specializing in purchasing and processing coconuts - analyzed: "This year, coconuts are in good harvest, so the output is low, while the demand for both domestic and export consumption is high. Not only fresh coconut but the demand for raw dried coconut for processing has also increased sharply. Currently, the price of fresh coconuts in Ben Tre gardens is about 180,000 VND/dozen, while the price of dried coconuts purchased in gardens is about 220,000 VND/dozen.

Ms. Chau Thi Kim Dien (Giong Trom district, Ben Tre) - is both a growth of nearly 1 hectare of coconut and a local collector - said that the main cause of the rising coconut price is due to a sharp decrease in coconut production due to the effects of prolonged drought and deep -headed, causing coconut trees to produce little fruit. In addition, the demand for coconut exports also increased significantly. Particularly in the domestic market, the demand for strong coconut drinking water is also one of the factors that caused the price of Siamese coconut in recent years.