In Vinh Long, people risked intercropping cocoa in coconut gardens and unexpectedly received high salaries.

In Tra On district, Vinh Long province, the model of intercropping cocoa trees in coconut gardens has contributed to improving economic efficiency on the same cultivation unit, bringing stable income.

According to the functional sector, in natural conditions, cocoa intercropped in coconut gardens and fruit gardens is very suitable because it takes advantage of scattered light and limits ecological limitations such as long droughts, floods, high water levels, and thin cultivation layers.

Besides, planting cocoa with coconut is also a way to avoid wasting land and take advantage of available ecological conditions that coconut trees do not fully utilize.

In addition, coconut productivity is also higher than monoculture, due to the large amount of fallen cocoa leaves reducing erosion, increasing the ability to retain nutrients in the soil, and maintaining soil moisture during the dry season.

In particular, cocoa leaves also increase organic resources, increase the density of beneficial microorganisms in the soil, helping the coconut root system to function well and maintain soil fertility.

Some farmers say that if cocoa is grown purely, it is necessary to plant shade trees or build a trellis, especially in the first year of planting and during the basic construction phase.

At this stage, cocoa trees need 50-75% shade to grow and develop well. Therefore, it is very suitable for planting in coconut gardens.

The model of intercropping cocoa trees in coconut gardens brings double profits to farmers in Tra On district, Vinh Long province.

With 25 hectares of coconut trees intercropped with cocoa in her garden, Ms. Pham Thi Xuan (Xuan Hiep commune, Tra On district) said: “My family has been growing coconut trees for nearly 20 years. Previously, we only grew coconut trees without intercropping with other crops. The income from the coconut garden was sometimes unstable when the price of coconuts on the market dropped sharply.

In recent years, I have intercropped cocoa in my coconut garden, which not only does not affect the coconut trees but also helps increase my income much more than before. With cocoa price of 9,000 VND/kg and dry coconut price of 70,000-75,000 VND/dozen, I have a steady income every month."

Also having 5 hectares of cocoa intercropped with coconut, Mr. Nguyen Van Quang (Xuan Hiep commune, Tra On district) said: "Cocoa intercropped with coconut is easy to grow and brings a stable income, so I maintain planting it and absolutely do not cut it down. In my opinion, intercropping cocoa in coconut is a sustainable development step in the face of market price fluctuations."

Many farmers also said that intercropping cocoa also helps coconut trees grow and develop better, productivity also increases significantly and shortens the time the coconut garden is "hanging" during the year (the "hanging" coconut is the off-season of coconut, the time when the coconut tree produces very few fruits).

Cocoa trees intercropped in coconut gardens have achieved higher results than other crops. However, to achieve high efficiency and increase productivity for both types of trees, it is necessary to pay attention to investment and good care, especially pruning and providing adequate nutrition for the trees. Regular fertilization helps cocoa trees achieve high productivity, and coconut trees also bear fruit.

According to the Farmers’ Association of Xuan Hiep Commune, the association has recently expanded the model of intercropping coconut trees with cocoa trees. This model helps farmers ensure a stable source of income when the coconut market is unstable in price or vice versa.

Currently, cocoa intercropping gardens have brought quite high income to gardeners. The Farmers' Association is orienting and mobilizing members and farmers to take advantage of coconut gardens and ineffective gardens to continue developing cocoa trees.

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Lam - Vice Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Xuan Hiep Commune (Tra On District) said: Currently, the area of ​​cocoa planted in coconut gardens in the commune is 154 hectares.

Of which, the area of ​​cocoa that is bearing fruit is 130ha, and the remaining 24ha of cocoa is only 1-2 years old. This model is bringing high economic efficiency. Accordingly, for the past 3 years, cocoa prices have been high and stable, and for the past 2 months, cocoa prices have also increased, to 9,000-9,800 VND/kg.

An average cocoa tree can produce 30 kg of fruit/tree/year. In addition, the price of coconut is also at 70,000-90,000 VND/dozen, bringing high income to farmers.

Therefore, the locality also encourages farmers to renovate mixed gardens and plant cocoa in coconut gardens to increase income and economic efficiency on the same unit of production area.

The locality also cooperated with a company in Ben Tre to support farmers with 7,000 cocoa trees. Accordingly, farmers pay 30% in advance and the remaining 70% when the cocoa trees bear fruit, they will pay the company the remaining amount. Currently, members of the farmers' association have also registered the number of cocoa trees to plant in the coming time.

Source: https://danviet.vn/o-vinh-long-dan-lieu-trong-xen-canh-ca-cao-trong-vuon-dua-bat-ngo-duoc-nhan-luong-cao-20240623011649248.htm