Cocoa plants get cultivated in Binh Phuoc

The southeastern province of Binh Phuoc will invest 140 billion VND (8.4 million USD) to develop cocoa cultivation over the next four years.

Phan Van Hoang, director of the Binh Phuoc’s Centre for Support Agriculture, said the investment would help diversify the province’s major agricultural products, including cashew and fruit.

Cocoa plants will be cultivated rotationally on a 6,000-hectare field used for cashew trees.

The city’s Centre for Support of Agriculture will supply cocoa saplings and provide cultivation techniques, and will connect farmers with merchants. A Binh Phuoc cocoa brand name will also be created.

The province’s rich soil, weather and human resources create favofurable conditions for cocoa cultivation, according to Pham Hong Duc Phuoc, vice chairman of the National Cocoa Plants Development Programme’s coordination board.

Currently the province has 1,200ha of cocoa fields. Half are in Bu Dang district and have an average yield of 0.8-1 quintal per hectare.

VNA

>   Riding out the storm (30/08/2008)

>   Businesses still throwing money into ads, despite high inflation (30/08/2008)

>   Hai Duong revokes licences of five FDI enterprises (30/08/2008)

>   Offcial calls for higher foreign trade efficiency (30/08/2008)

>   The national economy: Warnings against complacency (30/08/2008)

>   Binh Duong earns nearly US$4 billion from exports (30/08/2008)

>   Agro-forestry and fishery exports hit over US$11 bln in 8 months (30/08/2008)

>   VE Expo 2008 to boost the use of clean energy sources (30/08/2008)

>   German group keen on Vietnamese market (30/08/2008)

>   Mid-Autumn Festival mooncakes herald sweet time for bakery stocks (30/08/2008)