Nipa palm and the ‘heaven-sent’ values

“Being called “water coconut” in Vietnamese, but this “coconut” has no “water” at all!” And through his start-up in Can Gio (Ho Chi Minh City), Technician Phan Minh Tien has proven that nipa palm contains extremely precious honey.

Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, making things difficult for production, transportation and trade like many other businesses are suffering, Mr. Tien was still able to take advantage of the opportunity given "3 on-spot" production techniques focus on organizing management procedures, internal - external training (online courses) for profession development and gaining more time to research new products.

Since 2019, the market has known of the name "Ong Sau Nipa Palm Honey" - a natural honey product extracted and processed by Vietnam Nipa Development Company Limited (VIETNIPA). The nipa palm exploiting and processing model won the second prize in the Rural Youth Innovation Startup Contest organized by the Central Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee in collaboration with the Business Studies & Assistance (BSA) Center. Also in 2019 nipa palm was recognized as an Evocative Rural Industrial Product of Ho Chi Minh City.

The Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) has conducted a number of tests and determined that nipa palm has a low glycemic index (GI = 17), which is very suitable for patients with type 2 diabetes. " We must keep these "heaven-sent" values at all costs. High mineral salt, rich in vitamins and essential amino acids, all the features help balance electrolytes and increase body resistance. The condensed product can be used for mixing or processing with dishes, bringing a rich delicious taste, suitable for all ages," said Mr. Tien.

Mr. Tien said, "People can knock on the stem of the nipa to secrete honey, and the company will purchase it at a price much higher than just the nipa leaves." said engineer Tien. After knowing how to extract honey from the stalks of nipa coconuts, farmers in Can Gio district have attained a more stable source of income. They can harvest 15-20 tons of honey/year in 1 ha of nipa palm without having to put too much effort into plant care.

Harvesting nipa palm nectar is tricky in its own right, but the processing into finished products capable of meeting consumer demand is even more difficult. From 2019 to 2021, despite all stressful moments due to the pandemic and financial crisis, VIETNIPA still persisted in perfecting the process and standardizing products.

Nipa palm from the 4th or 5th year (flowering and fruiting) is suitable to collect honey. The process can be executed twice a day. Farmers need to use a clean knife to cut a thin slice of 2mm on the top of the stem so that the sap flows out continuously. The output can be up to 15 - 20 tons/ha. The honey collection period can last for over 50 years if one knows how to exploit and conserve appropriately.

On September 17, 2021, VIETNIPA's Food Safety Management System received an evaluation from Vietnam Certification Centre (QUACERT) and was certified in accordance with ISO 22000:2018 and HACCP standards. QUACERT certification is recognized worldwide through accreditation by JAS - ANZ (Australia and New Zealand), a founding member of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF).

On November 15, 2021, the Business Association of High Quality Vietnamese Goods officially certified VIETNIPA's products to be awarded the title of High Quality Vietnamese Goods - Global Integration Standards (GIS),

These evaluation criteria are consistent with international standards of organizations such as Foodplus GmbH (Global GAP), FDA (USA), BRC (UK), and IFS.

It is an affirmation of the prestige and capacity of the VIETNIPA team in the will to learn, the consolidation of the system and the commitment to customers through their best quality products.

Mr. Tien said that the condensed nipa palm honey product - Ong Sau Nipa Palm - has reached the hands of many customers all over the country. From this product line, farmers will no longer waste nipa palm but instead better protect this precious resource. They will then have more opportunities to improve their incomes and contribute to protecting the "green lungs" of Ho Chi Minh City, preventing the risk of landslides in many areas.

From the potential of developing this product line, not only in Can Gio but the whole Mekong Delta will also be able to protect nipa palm while potentially discovering other surprises from nipa palm forests.