As more and more brands and new standards are born, businesses follow the standards of different markets around the world, along with vague propaganda, Binh Phuoc cashew products with geographical indications (GIs) despite their superior value still find it difficult to find a firm foothold in the hearts of consumers and in the market.
Not yet confirmed position
From the practical values that cashew trees bring to many areas for Binh Phuoc province, this tree has "entered" important economic development policies and strategies of authorities at all levels from central to local. Binh Phuoc has been planned by the Government and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as the main raw material area for the cashew industry with 200,000 hectares of cashew by 2020. Resolution No. 11-NQ/TU dated April 15, 2020 of the Provincial Party Committee on the development of the Binh Phuoc cashew industry in the period of 2020-2025, with a vision to 2030, identifies the goal of building and developing the Binh Phuoc cashew industry with a brand, reputation, and in-depth direction.
In fact, in recent years, the province's agricultural sector has shifted the structure of key crops in the province, including cashew. Up to now, the cashew area has been narrowed to only about 140,000 hectares. Along with that, the price of raw cashew materials is also low compared to other agricultural products. This has been a concern for cashew growers and the province in recent times.
Although the GI of Binh Phuoc cashew nuts is valuable domestically and internationally, the influence of cashew nuts with GI is still weak. Compared to cashew nuts in the province in particular and in the country in general, but with the brand name of OCOP products, Binh Phuoc cashew nuts with GI are not very impressive to consumers. Because, in fact, consumers do not fully understand the advantages of cashew nuts with GI compared to other brands and trademarks. Ms. Tran Thi Huong in Quarter 1, Tien Thanh Ward, Dong Xoai City said: Cashew is one of the nuts that I put on my daily menu to take care of my health. Therefore, when choosing cashew products, I base them on criteria such as the reliability of the manufacturing unit, the product's certified standards, which brand... However, I hardly know about Binh Phuoc cashew products with CDDL, while OCOP products are heard and introduced more.
According to the assessment of business owners whose cashew products are granted a GI, they do not deny the advantages of other branded products, but must admit that Binh Phuoc cashew products granted a GI are of very good quality, with many plus points for consumers. To be granted a GI, many strict standards must be met; after being granted a GI, regular inspection and evaluation are required... if not properly implemented, the GI will be revoked.
It can be seen that, although it was born earlier and has many advantages and outstanding values, in terms of market access and consumer access, Binh Phuoc cashew products with GI are somewhat "weaker" than brands and labels born later in the country. To have a sustainable position in the hearts of consumers and in the market is a great concern for businesses, localities that are raw material growing areas granted GI as well as the authorities that are managing the GI of Binh Phuoc cashew.
The "knots"
In recent years, cashew growers have faced many risks. Ms. Nguyen Thi Trang, who used to be a household with a large cashew area in village 2, Long Ha commune, Phu Rieng district, said: “Complex and unpredictable climate change has caused more and more diseases to appear on cashew trees, seriously reducing productivity and quality of nuts. The cost of investment, care and production for cashew trees is increasingly high. Meanwhile, the price of raw cashews has remained low for many years. This has caused cashew growers to suffer losses. The economic value of cashew trees is less effective than other crops, so many people have switched crops. Up to now, my family has converted 7 hectares of cashew trees to rubber trees, now there is only about 1 hectare of cashew trees left”. In addition, urbanization and rural industrialization are also the reasons for the shrinking cashew area.
The planning and formation of cooperatives and large cashew growing areas are not many, and the production chain with processing enterprises has not been formed, making it difficult to control the origin and quality. As a result, most cashew producing and trading enterprises in the province do not have or have difficulty finding raw material areas to supply Binh Phuoc cashews that fully meet the conditions of the geographical indication, but must purchase through traders. There are some cases of linking with cashew growing households, but it is still a formality. Enterprises that are granted the right to use geographical indications also lack production linkages with each other to create strengths for products with geographical indications in the market.
Mr. Vu Manh Tung, Director of Vang Cashew Nut Company Limited (Phu Rieng District) said: My family has a large cashew growing area and is a member of Hoa Phu Clean Agricultural Cooperative in Tan Phu village, Bu Nho commune, Phu Rieng district. For many years, the company, as a member, has also cooperated with the cooperative to supply clean cashew materials for the production and processing of cashew products and has been certified by OCOP. In 2023, the company researched and prepared documents for the geographical indication of Binh Phuoc cashew nuts. However, after researching, although the product has many advantages in geographical indication, the actual business needs of the company are not necessary.
According to the actual survey of the reporter, the reason why many businesses are still hesitant to participate in the GI of Binh Phuoc cashew is because it does not bring immediate benefits and advantages in terms of price in the market. On the contrary, they have to face fierce competition from cashew products of the same type without GI but with other brands. Even due to the loose management in naming products with "labels" showing the content as "Binh Phuoc Specialty", "Binh Phuoc Cashew" by some families, small traders freely named them to gain the trust of consumers... Because of these reasons, many businesses were initially enthusiastic about GI but later lost interest.
The value of products granted geographical indication protection of Binh Phuoc cashew nuts is undeniable. However, few consumers and businesses understand correctly and fully the value of the geographical indication of Binh Phuoc cashew nuts. Therefore, although the geographical indication of Binh Phuoc cashew nuts has been granted since 2018, up to now, products with geographical indication of Binh Phuoc cashew nuts are still few and monotonous; the level of recognition of the value and brand of the geographical indication of Binh Phuoc cashew nuts in the hearts of consumers and the market is not high. There is a folk saying "Hold gold, don't let it fall", before the potential and strengths that the geographical indication of Binh Phuoc cashew nuts brings, it is necessary for competent authorities, functional sectors, cashew businesses and cashew growers to join hands to promote this advantage, do not let the geographical indication of Binh Phuoc cashew nuts be "forgotten" over time.
Source
![[Photo] Visiting Cu Chi Tunnels - a heroic underground feat](https://vstatic.vietnam.vn/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2025/4/8/06cb489403514b878768dd7262daba0b)
Comment (0)