Unique model lets consumers buy coconuts direct from trees year-round

Buying and selling directly from the source

Phu Cat district, which includes approximately 1,200 hectares of Xiem coconut plantations and serves as over one-third of Binh Dinh province's coconut water production area, provides support to local producers in the development and expansion of the "My Home Coconut Tree" model. The objective of this initiative is to guarantee a consistent market for Xiem coconuts.

For a period of one year, customers who engage in this model acquire coconuts directly from the trees at a consistent price. Delivery of the coconuts to the customer's residence is contingent upon the garden owner's availability. The "My Home Coconut Tree" model has garnered over 200 participants and is currently being expanded on a local scale, as per Nguyen Van Le, the Head of the Agriculture and Rural Development Department in Phu Cat district.

Upon a visit at the 1.5-hectare organic coconut farm in Tung Chanh village, Cat Hiep commune, Phu Cat district, owned by Luu Anh Vu (33 years old), we were delighted to observe small nameplates affixed to the coconut trees. These nameplates represent the names of consumers who acquired the trees for a period of one year. Vu contacts the customer when the tree produces coconuts that are suitable for consumption. Whenever possible, the client may visit the garden to observe the harvest and retrieve the coconuts back home. Vu harvests and delivers the coconuts himself for those who prefer personal delivery.

Vo Ngoc Huynh, a customer of the "My Home Coconut Tree" model at Vu's garden shared: "I purchased a complete coconut tree package for a year at a cost of 800,000 VND. The tree yields approximately 100 coconuts annually, resulting in a cost of 8,000 VND per coconut. Xiem coconuts can be sold for as much as 12,000 VND per fruit, making this a considerable discount during the dry season. The cost of a single fruit decreases to 6,000 VND during the monsoon season. In addition to the favorable price, the coconuts are organically produced, which guarantees their quality. The garden proprietor maintains a Zalo group that I can utilize to oversee the care and development of my coconut tree that I recently acquired."

Gaining the trust of buyers

The "My Home Coconut Tree" model has not only garnered the confidence of those working abroad, but it has also earned the trust of local customers. Nguyen Thi Thanh Hang, a lecturer at Quy Nhon University who is currently pursuing her studies in Taiwan, stated, "I contacted the Agriculture and Rural Development Department in Phu Cat district to purchase a tree, transferred the money, and signed the contract online, after seeing this model on social media." My mother in Quy Nhon City received the initial harvest of coconuts two months after I became a model. She called to inform me that the coconuts were quite large, had an abundance of water, and had a significantly sweeter flavor than the ones she had previously purchased. I am extremely pleased to be involved in this model, as it allows me to purchase high-quality agricultural products for my mother, even when I am abroad.

According to Luu Anh Vu, the owner of the organic coconut farm in Tung Chanh village (Cat Hiep commune), garden owners participating in the "My Home Coconut Tree" model receive support from the district’s Agriculture and Rural Development Department to create a dedicated database. This system manages all coconut trees in the model, including details like the farmer's name, address, and contact information.

“The identification details for each coconut tree are very specific, including the tree variety, identification code, tree age, selling price, and planting date. Each coconut tree is assigned a unique identification code through a QR code,” shared Luu Anh Vu.

According to Nguyen Van Le, Head of the Agriculture and Rural Development Department in Phu Cat district, compared to Ben Tre coconuts, Phu Cat’s Xiem coconuts have a lighter, refreshing sweetness and yield more water, making them more valuable. With the current selling price, coconut farmers in Phu Cat can earn an average of 1 million VND per tree per year.

“The 'My Home Coconut Tree' model ensures a market for high-quality products, builds trust among consumers, and gives farmers confidence to grow Xiem coconuts organically, expanding their cultivation area,” shared Nguyen Van Le, Head of the Agriculture and Rural Development Department in Phu Cat district.