Vinh Long cuts carbon emissions from coconut cultivation

With nearly 120,000 ha of coconut trees, Vinh Long not only plays a major role in the local economy but also holds significant potential to participate in the carbon market and develop climate-smart, sustainable agriculture. The carbon-reduction potential of coconut cultivation is substantial.

Experts note that coconut trees can absorb large amounts of greenhouse gases (CO2) throughout their decades-long lifespan. Their wide root systems and broad canopies help lock carbon into the soil.

Organic coconut farming, which avoids chemical inputs, eliminates major emission sources linked to the production of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. It also reduces emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O), a greenhouse gas nearly 300 times more potent than CO2.

Additionally, coconut by-products such as coir fiber and shells can be used to make construction materials, insulation, or biodegradable products that replace fossil-based materials.

Thanks to these advantages, organic and low-emission coconut cultivation not only benefits the environment but also creates sustainable economic opportunities for Vinh Long – Viet Nam’s “coconut capital” – supporting greener production, circular agriculture, and higher value for the coconut industry.

According to the Vinh Long Department of Agriculture and Environment, the province has recently implemented various solutions to strengthen the coconut value chain. These include transferring new technical advances, supporting the planting of new trees and the rehabilitation of underproductive orchards, developing intercropping models, expanding the processing industry, and organizing scientific workshops to enhance production capacity.

The province is also prioritizing organic coconut farming, assigning planting-area codes for both domestic consumption and export, and calling for businesses to invest and engage in contract farming to ensure strong market access and stable incomes for growers.

However, traditional farming practices still pose challenges. Overuse of chemical fertilizers, inefficient by-product management, and burning of biomass waste all contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Climate change has further reduced yields, lowered fruit weight, and increased pest pressure – all of which make life harder for coconut farmers.

To address these issues, the Vinh Long agriculture and environment sector is promoting a shift toward sustainable cultivation, encouraging farmers to reduce chemical fertilizer use and replace it with organic and microbial fertilizers, adopt water-saving irrigation, and manage orchards using ecosystem-based approaches. These measures help reduce emissions while improving soil health and enhancing crop resilience against climate stress.

Moreover, utilizing coconut by-products, such as leaves, husks, shells, and coir fiber to produce organic fertilizer, biofuel, or industrial materials is also an important direction. Reusing these materials not only cuts emissions from open burning but also opens new income streams for farmers, contributing meaningfully to the transition toward circular agriculture.

Vinh Long is now focusing on ecological, circular, and low-emission agriculture, while protecting, restoring, and gradually expanding forest cover to increase carbon storage. The province is also working with experts to assess the carbon-market potential of coconut trees and other perennial crops, laying the foundation for deeper participation in future carbon finance mechanisms.

With the right strategy and strong community participation, Vinh Long is steadily positioning itself as a leader in green coconut production, emission reduction, and climate resilience.

According to Mr Van Huu Hue, coconut production is still fragmented, and the share of coconut-growing areas engaged in production linkages remains low, at only around 30%. Although coconut trees are generally resilient to climate change, they are still affected by a decline in yields decline, fruit weight decreases, and pests and diseases become more frequent. In addition, Vinh Long’s coconut sector is facing increasingly severe climate change impacts, including freshwater shortages and drought, high tides, saltwater intrusion, and pest outbreaks.

Given these challenges, Mr Hue believes that in the coming period Vinh Long should focus on three strategic pillars: developing climate-resilient and sustainable coconut raw-material zones; promoting deeper processing; and strengthening management and value-chain linkages.

Specifically, the province will develop specialized organic coconut zones that meet international standards, establish and strictly manage planting-area codes linked to processing and consumption, and strengthen research, selection, and expansion of high-quality coconut varieties with strong tolerance to salinity and drought. It will also develop and apply low-emission cultivation practices and advanced water-saving irrigation techniques.

The province will maintain and expand facilities for breeding natural enemies, invest in early-warning systems, and apply biological pest and disease management processes to protect the ecological environment of coconut orchards. It will also develop demonstration models for climate-adaptive coconut farming and for coconut cultivation in wetland areas. Training programs will be organized to transfer techniques and replicate these models across coconut-growing communes.