Switching from ineffective rice farming to coconut farming is 3 times more profitable

Implementing the policy of developing agriculture in an effective, sustainable and climate-resilient direction, Vinh Long province has converted many ineffective rice growing areas to other crops and livestock to increase efficiency on the same cultivated area. In recent times, the model of converting rice land to coconut growing has brought about remarkable results, helping many rural families increase their income and improve their lives.

Mr. Kim Van Thanh in Song Loc commune ( Vinh Long ) converted 1.2 hectares of rice land to coconut farming for 15 years now, earning more than 10 times more income than growing rice.

Mr. Kim Van Thanh's family in Song Loc commune converted 1.2 hectares of rice land to coconut plantation 15 years ago. Mr. Thanh shared that this land was heavily contaminated with alum, so before that, his family could only grow 1 or 2 rice crops/year, with very low productivity of only about 4-5 tons/ha/crop, and the highest profit was only 20 million VND/year. In 2010, he decided to improve the land, making beds to plant 80 wax coconut trees and 160 coconut trees. Each month, he harvests about 1,700 dry coconuts and 50 wax coconuts. For the past 2 years, this coconut garden has helped his family maintain a stable profit of over 25 million VND/month, much higher than before the conversion.

Currently, the price of dry coconuts has increased very high, from 200,000-240,000 VND/12 fruits, along with the income from wax coconuts with prices ranging from 30,000-120,000 VND/fruit depending on the type of liquid wax, his family's income has increased significantly.

Mr. Ngo Hong Thanh, Chairman of Song Loc Commune People's Committee, said that the process of converting crop structure, coconut trees have proven to be clearly effective and have become the main crop of Song Loc Commune in recent years, bringing a very stable source of income for gardeners, many times higher than previous rice cultivation.

Currently, the whole commune has more than 1,624 hectares of coconut plantations; of which, 70% are local coconuts and strawberry coconuts for dry fruit harvesting, the rest are Siamese coconuts, pineapple coconuts and wax coconuts. The commune has 14.4 hectares of wax coconuts, a specialty coconut with very high economic value in Vinh Long.

Identifying the potential of coconut trees, Vinh Long's agricultural sector has coordinated with localities to promote the construction of specialized areas and develop the value chain of coconut products. Up to now, Song Loc commune has been supported by the provincial agricultural sector to grant 2 codes for growing areas for export to China, with a total area of ​​343 hectares, in Bot Chech hamlet (136.5 hectares) and O Chich B hamlet (206.4 hectares). At the same time, the locality has been granted an organic coconut area certificate for 1,015 households on an area of ​​840 hectares, opening up opportunities for more stable and sustainable consumption.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Vinh Long province, since the beginning of the year, the whole province has converted 26,220 hectares of ineffective rice land to other crops and livestock; of which perennial crops are nearly 583 hectares, annual crops are over 25,551 hectares. Thanks to the synchronous application of technical advances and safe production, the conversion models have brought economic efficiency 2-3 times higher than traditional rice cultivation.

In 2026, Vinh Long province plans to convert nearly 30,000 hectares of ineffective rice-growing land to other crops and livestock; of which, about 1,400 hectares will be for perennial crops, 28,400 hectares for annual crops and 150 hectares for rice cultivation combined with aquaculture.

The province continues to implement support policies, technology transfer, and connect businesses to consume products, gradually forming a sustainable agricultural value chain. The locality also promptly updates regulations and technical barriers of import markets, thereby proposing appropriate production organization solutions, ensuring the maintenance and expansion of official export markets for local agricultural products.

The garden of coconut seedlings prepared for the market of Mr. Dang Minh Be's family in Song Loc commune (Vinh Long).

Among the crops selected for conversion, coconut trees are highly valued for their ability to adapt well to dry climates, saltwater intrusion, ease of care and long-term harvest. Coconuts planted once can be harvested for up to 50 years, bringing a relatively good monthly income to farmers.

The province currently has 119,270 hectares of coconut trees, an increase of 11,335 hectares compared to 2020. The coconut area of ​​Vinh Long province is the highest in the country, accounting for nearly 50% of the country's coconut area. Along with that, productivity also increased slightly, from 10.98 tons/ha in 2020 to 11.95 tons/ha in 2025 (equivalent to nearly 10,000 fruits/ha). Vinh Long farmers have intensive farming skills, know how to apply techniques to increase productivity, output and quality; are highly appreciated by traders and purchasing enterprises, meeting market demand.

Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Vinh Long province, Lam Van Tan, said that the province is synchronously implementing many solutions to promote the development of the coconut value chain, from supporting the renovation of ineffective coconut gardens, transferring technical advances, developing intercropping models in coconut gardens, promoting deep processing and organizing scientific seminars to connect businesses, calling for investment in product consumption. The province also focuses on developing organic coconuts associated with the issuance of growing area codes for domestic consumption and export.

Up to now, the whole province has 30,355 hectares of coconut produced according to organic standards; in which, many organic coconut growing areas meet international standards such as USDA, EU, China, JAS, Kora, .... In addition, Vinh Long has 156 codes for fresh coconut growing areas on a total area of ​​11,012 hectares. In particular, the province has 17 codes for coconut packaging facilities that have been granted codes by Chinese Customs to be eligible for export to this market.

Currently, Vinh Long province advocates diversifying products and deep processing from coconuts to meet market demand; focusing on developing export markets and building a strong brand in key export markets.

The province aims to have a coconut growing area of ​​132,000 hectares by 2030, with an output of over 1.5 million tons; of which, about 40,000-50,000 hectares will be developed into concentrated raw material areas in the province's freshwater and freshwater communes.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/kinh-te/chuyen-tu-trong-lua-kem-hieu-qua-sang-dua-lai-cao-gap-3-lan-20251005095845315.htm